Shloka 7
सौवीरा: कितवा: प्राच्या: प्रतीच्योदीच्यमालवा:,सौवीर, कितव, प्राच्य, प्रतीच्य, उदीच्य, मालव, अभीषाह, शूरसेन, शिबि और वसाति देशके योद्धा शत्रुओंके तीखे बाणोंसे पीड़ित होनेपर भी संग्रामभूमिमें भीष्मको छोड़कर नहीं भागे
saṃjaya uvāca | sauvīrāḥ kitavāḥ prācyāḥ pratīcyodīcyamālavāḥ śūrasenāḥ śibayo vasātayaś ca | śatrūṇāṃ tīkṣṇabāṇapīḍitā api raṇabhūmau bhīṣmaṃ hitvā na palāyanta |
Sanjaya said: The warriors of the Sauvīras, the Kitavas, the Easterners, the Westerners, the Northerners, and the Mālavas—along with the Śūrasenas, the Śibis, and the Vasāti people—though tormented by the enemies’ sharp arrows, did not flee the battlefield, nor did they abandon Bhīṣma. Their steadfastness shows the martial ethic of standing firm under suffering and maintaining loyalty to their commander amid the terror of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-ethics: steadfastness under pain, refusal to flee in fear, and loyalty to one’s commander. Even when wounded by sharp arrows, the warriors uphold duty and cohesion rather than abandoning Bhīṣma.
Sanjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that multiple allied groups on the Kaurava side remain firm in battle. Though struck and distressed by the enemy’s arrows, they do not retreat and do not leave Bhīṣma on the field.