Shloka 70
Nakula–Śakuni Duel and the Night Battle; Śikhaṇḍin–Kṛpa Engagement (नकुल-शकुनियुद्धं तथा रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)
सैन्धवे सक्तदृष्टित्वान्नैनं पश्यामि माधवम् । एतत् त्वसुकरं कर्म यादवार्थे करोम्यहम्,'प्रभो! मेरी दृष्टि सिन्धुराज जयद्रथपर लगी हुई थी। इसलिये मैं सात्यकिको नहीं देख रहा था; परंतु अब मैं इस यदुवंशी वीरकी रक्षाके लिये यह दुष्कर कर्म करता हूँ”
saindhave saktadṛṣṭitvān nainaṃ paśyāmi mādhavam | etat tv asukaraṃ karma yādavārthe karomy aham ||
Wahai Mādhava, karena pandanganku terpaku pada raja Sindhu (Jayadratha), aku tidak melihatnya (Sātyaki). Namun kini, demi melindungi pahlawan Yādava itu, aku menunaikan tindakan yang sukar ini.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fixation on a single urgent target can narrow perception, and how duty in war may shift suddenly from pursuit to protection—undertaking a difficult act for the sake of an ally. It underscores vigilance and responsibility amid chaos.
Sañjaya reports that his attention had been locked on Jayadratha (the Sindhu-king), so he failed to notice Mādhava; now he turns to a demanding task undertaken for the sake of a Yādava hero—framed as an act of protection in the ongoing battle.