Shloka 27
Sātyaki-praveśaḥ and Duryodhana-saṃnipātaḥ
Sātyaki’s passage and Duryodhana’s mass engagement
अवैक्षन्ताचलैनेंत्रै: परिवार्य नरर्षभौ । रथी, महावत, घुड़सवार और पैदल सभी उन दोनों नरश्रेष्ठ वीरोंको घेरकर उन्हें एकटक नेत्रोंसे निहारने लगे ।। हस्त्यनीकान्यतिष्ठन्त तथानीकानि वाजिनाम्
sañjaya uvāca | avaikṣantācalair netraiḥ parivārya nararṣabhau | rathino mātaṅgāś ca vājinaś ca padātayaḥ sarve tāv ubhau narottamau vīkṣitum ekāgram abhyatiṣṭhan | hastyanīkāny atiṣṭhanta tathā anīkāni vājīnām ||
Setelah mengepung dua pahlawan unggul itu, para kesatria memandang mereka dengan mata tak berkedip. Para pejuang kereta, pasukan gajah beserta mahout, para penunggang kuda, dan prajurit pejalan kaki—semuanya berdiri terpaku menatap dua insan utama itu; barisan gajah bertahan di tempatnya, demikian pula barisan kavaleri.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined attention and collective restraint in war: even amid violence, armies can hold formation and observe a decisive encounter, implying that order (niyama) and command structure govern action, not mere impulse.
Sañjaya describes a moment when all four arms of the army—chariots, elephants, cavalry, and infantry—encircle two outstanding warriors and watch them intently, while the elephant and cavalry divisions remain stationed in their arrays.