Shloka 11
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
गजों और गजारोहियोंने रथियों
kaikeyau sātyakiṃ yuddhe śaravarṣeṇa bhāsvatā | sātyakiḥ kekayau cāpi cchādayāmāsa bhārata ||
संजय बोले—उस युद्ध में कैकेय वीर ने तेजस्वी बाण-वर्षा से सात्यकि को ढक दिया; और हे भारत, सात्यकि ने भी प्रत्युत्तर में कैकेय को वैसे ही आच्छादित कर दिया।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the momentum of warfare: once combat is joined, even celebrated heroes respond to attack with counter-attack. It implicitly contrasts kṣatriya valor with the ethical cost of escalation—prowess becomes a cycle of retaliation rather than a space for restraint.
Sañjaya reports a duel-like exchange: a Kaikeya/Kekaya warrior showers Sātyaki with brilliant arrows, and Sātyaki immediately answers by covering his opponent with missiles as well, intensifying the battlefield clash.