Shloka 22
Nakula–Śakuni Duel and the Night Battle; Śikhaṇḍin–Kṛpa Engagement (नकुल-शकुनियुद्धं तथा रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)
सौमदत्तिस्तु शैनेयं प्रच्छाद्येषुभिराशुगै:
saumadattis tu śaineyaṁ pracchādyeṣubhir āśugaiḥ
Sañjaya dit : Mais Saumadatti, criblant Śaineya de flèches au vol rapide, chercha à le couvrir et à l’accabler dans la mêlée—image de ce que, dans la guerre, la vaillance se mesure à l’art de briser l’élan de l’adversaire par une pression sans répit.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield ethic where a warrior asserts dominance by restraining an opponent through sustained, skillful offense; it reflects the kṣatriya ideal of meeting force with disciplined courage, even as the narrative shows how violence rapidly intensifies once rivalry is engaged.
Sañjaya reports that Bhūriśravas (Saumadatti) attacks Sātyaki (Śaineya) by raining swift arrows upon him, attempting to smother his movement and initiative in the fight.