Shloka 50
भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः
Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt
अथान्यद् धनुरादाय सत्यजिद् वेगवत्तरम् | साश्वंं ससूतं सरथं पार्थ विव्याध सत्वर:,तब सत्यजितने दूसरा अत्यन्त वेगशाली धनुष लेकर तुरंत ही घोड़े, सारथि एवं रथसहित अर्जुनको बींध डाला
athānyad dhanur ādāya satyajid vegavattaram | sāśvaṃ sasūtaṃ sarathaṃ pārtha vivyādha satvaraḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then Satyajit took up another bow, swifter in its force, and in an instant pierced Pārtha (Arjuna) together with his horse, charioteer, and chariot—an image of battle-fury where skill is measured by how completely one can disable an opponent’s entire war-assembly, not merely the warrior alone.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the intensity of kṣatriya combat: a warrior’s prowess is shown by disabling the opponent’s entire fighting system (chariot, horses, charioteer) as well as the fighter. Ethically, it points to how warfare tests restraint and responsibility—power can be total, but dharma demands it be governed.
Satyajit switches to another, faster bow and immediately strikes Arjuna (Pārtha), along with Arjuna’s horses, charioteer, and chariot—depicting a rapid, overwhelming attack in a chariot-battle setting.