Shloka 373
Sātyaki-praveśaḥ and Duryodhana-saṃnipātaḥ
Sātyaki’s passage and Duryodhana’s mass engagement
सज्यं चकार तदपि चिच्छेदास्य च सात्यकि: । तब भरद्वाजनन्दन द्रोणने पलक मारते-मारते दूसरा धनुष हाथमें लेकर उसपर प्रत्यंचा चढ़ायी; परंतु सात्यकिने उनके उस धनुषको भी काट डाला
sa-jyaṃ cakāra tad api cicchedāsya ca sātyakiḥ | tadā bharadvājanandanaḥ droṇaḥ palakṣaṃ mārate-mārate dvitīyaṃ dhanuḥ hastam ānīya tasmin pratyāñcaṃ samāropayat; kintu sātyakinā tad api dhanuś chinnaṃ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Droṇa, putra Bharadvāja, memasang tali busurnya; namun Sātyaki memutusnya juga. Seketika Droṇa meraih busur kedua dan mengencangkan talinya—tetapi Sātyaki kembali menebas busur itu.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary skill and determination in war can rapidly intensify conflict: Droṇa’s unbroken aggression meets Sātyaki’s equally decisive counter. Ethically, it points to the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension—martial excellence fulfills kṣatriya duty, yet it also accelerates harm, demanding discernment about ends and means.
In the midst of battle, Droṇa strings his bow, but Sātyaki cuts it. Droṇa immediately takes up a second bow and strings it as he continues attacking, and Sātyaki cuts that bow as well—showing rapid exchanges and dominance in the moment through weapon-disabling tactics.