Shloka 16
प्रामुड्चत् पुडुखसंयुक्तान् शरानाशीविषोपमान् | संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! महाबाहु सात्यकि युद्धमें उन््मत्त होकर लड़नेवाले थे। उन्होंने युद्धमें भार सहन करनेमें समर्थ और परम उत्तम धनुषको बलपूर्वक खींचकर विषधर सर्पके समान भयानक पंखयुक्त बाण छोड़े,एवमुक्तस्तदा शूरैस्तानुवाच महाबल: । वीर्यश्लाघी नरश्रेष्ठस्तान् दृष्टया समवस्थितान् तब उन शूरवीरोंके ऐसा कहनेपर अपने पराक्रमकी श्लाघा करनेवाला महाबली नरश्रेष्ठ भूरिश्रवा उन्हें युद्धके लिये उपस्थित देख उनसे इस प्रकार बोला--
sañjaya uvāca | prāmuñcat pṛthukasaṁyuktān śarān āśīviṣopamān |
Sañjaya said: O King, the mighty-armed Sātyaki, fighting with fierce ardour, forcefully drew his excellent bow—fit to bear the strain of battle—and released broad, well-fitted arrows, dreadful like venomous serpents. The scene underscores the relentless momentum of war: prowess is displayed through disciplined skill, yet its immediate fruit is fear and destruction on the battlefield.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dual nature of martial excellence: disciplined strength and skill are praised in a kṣatriya context, yet their expression in war manifests as lethal force. It invites reflection on how dharma in battle can still carry grave human cost.
Sañjaya reports to the king that Sātyaki, fighting intensely, draws his powerful bow and shoots broad, well-made arrows described as deadly like venomous snakes—signaling an escalation of combat and the terror produced by expert archery.