Shloka 25
अर्जुनस्य गुरुधर्मविलापः तथा शैनेयकर्णयोर्युद्धारम्भः | Arjuna’s Lament on Guru-Dharma and the Opening of the Sātyaki–Karṇa Duel
आश्चर्य तत्र राजेन्द्र सुमहद् दृष्टवानहम् । न मोघ:ः सायकः: कश्चित् सात्यकेरभवत् प्रभो,शक्तिशाली राजेन्द्र! वहाँ सबसे महान् आश्वर्यकी बात मैंने यह देखी कि सात्यकिका कोई भी बाण व्यर्थ नहीं गया
āścaryaṃ tatra rājendra sumahad dṛṣṭavān aham | na moghaḥ sāyakaḥ kaścit sātyaker abhavat prabho ||
Sañjaya dit : «Ô le meilleur des rois, j’y vis un prodige véritablement immense : pas une seule flèche de Sātyaki (Śaineya) ne partit en vain, ô seigneur. Chaque trait atteignit sa cible, manifestant la maîtrise née d’une discipline rigoureuse et la résolution inébranlable avec lesquelles il combattait au cœur du tumulte de la guerre.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical ideal of disciplined competence in one’s duty: in the turmoil of battle, Sātyaki’s unwavering focus makes every action purposeful—no effort is wasted. It praises mastery joined with resolve, suggesting that skill guided by steadiness yields effective, accountable action.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra what he has witnessed on the battlefield. He singles out a striking detail: Sātyaki’s archery is so precise that none of his arrows are ineffective; each finds its intended result, underscoring Sātyaki’s exceptional performance in the Drona Parva battle scenes.