Shloka 32
भूरिश्रवसः गर्हा, प्रायोपवेशः, सात्यकिकृतशिरच्छेदः
Bhūriśravas’s Censure, Prāyopaveśa, and Sātyaki’s Beheading
कृतवर्मा तु शैनेयं षड़्विंशत्या समार्पयत्
kṛtavarmā tu śaineyaṃ ṣaḍviṃśatyā samārpayat
Sañjaya dit : Kṛtavarmā ordonna alors que Śaineya fût pris à partie par vingt-six guerriers—concentration délibérée des forces contre un seul combattant illustre, au cœur d’une violence qui ne cessait de s’exacerber sur le champ de bataille.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, leaders may concentrate overwhelming force against a key opponent; ethically, it invites reflection on the tension between tactical necessity and fairness, and how escalation can intensify adharma-like outcomes even when framed as kṣatriya duty.
Sañjaya reports that Kṛtavarmā directs that Śaineya (Sātyaki) be engaged by twenty-six fighters, suggesting a coordinated attempt to check or neutralize Sātyaki’s effectiveness on the battlefield.