Shloka 31
Droṇavadha-saṃniveśaḥ — The Convergence Toward Droṇa’s Fall
Book 7, Chapter 164
ततः शरं महाघोरं ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम् | मुमोच सात्वतो राजन् स्वर्णपुड्खं शिलाशितम्,राजन! तत्पश्चात् सात्वतवंशी सात्यकिने प्रजवलित पावकके समान एक महाभयंकर, सुवर्णमय पंखवाला और शिलापर तेज किया हुआ बाण सोमदत्तपर छोड़ा
tataḥ śaraṁ mahāghoraṁ jvalantam iva pāvakam | mumoca sātvato rājan svarṇapuṅkhaṁ śilāśitam ||
Wahai Raja, kemudian sang pejuang Sātvata melepaskan sebuah anak panah yang amat mengerikan, menyala bagaikan api, berbulu emas dan diasah di atas batu, menuju Somadatta.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, martial excellence and determination can intensify destruction; it implicitly invites reflection on kṣatriya-duty (fighting when duty-bound) versus the moral weight of escalating violence.
Sañjaya narrates that the Sātvata warrior (Sātyaki) shoots a terrifying, fire-like arrow—gold-fletched and stone-honed—at his opponent, marking a heightened moment in the ongoing battle.