Shloka 286
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — सात्यकि-अलम्बुसयोर्युद्धवर्णनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue; Account of Sātyaki vs Alambusa
त्वरन् प्राच्छादयद् बाणैः शलभानामिव व्रजै: । इसके बाद द्रोणाचार्यने उतावले होकर टिट्ठीदलोंके समान अपने शीघ्रगामी बाणोंद्वारा घोड़े, सारथि, रथ और ध्वजसहित सात्यकिको आच्छादित कर दिया
tvaran prācchādayad bāṇaiḥ śalabhānām iva vrajaiḥ |
Kemudian Droṇācārya, dengan tergesa, menghujani Sātyaki dengan rentetan panah yang rapat, laksana kawanan belalang menutupi langit—hingga kuda, sais, kereta, dan panjinya pun seakan terselubung.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the uncompromising momentum of kṣatriya warfare: skill and speed can overwhelm even a valiant opponent, and in the battlefield frame of dharma, steadfastness under pressure becomes a moral and martial test.
Sañjaya narrates that Droṇa, acting quickly, unleashes such a thick barrage of arrows that Sātyaki is ‘covered’ by them—compared to being enveloped by swarms of locusts—signaling a moment of severe tactical pressure.