Shloka 343
भूरिश्रवसः गर्हा, प्रायोपवेशः, सात्यकिकृतशिरच्छेदः
Bhūriśravas’s Censure, Prāyopaveśa, and Sātyaki’s Beheading
रुक्माड्दी रुक्मवर्मा रुक्मपुड्खैरवारयत् । तदनन्तर सोनेके केयूर और सोनेके ही कवच धारण करनेवाले सुवर्णमय ध्वजासे सुशोभित कृतवर्माने सोनेकी पीठवाले अपने विशाल धनुषकी टंकार करके स्वर्णमय पंखवाले बाणोंसे सात्यकिको आगे बढ़नेसे रोक दिया
Rukmādī Rukmavarmā rukmapuḍkhair avārayat | tadanantaraṁ suvarṇake yūrakavacadhārī suvarṇamaya-dhvajena suśobhitaḥ Kṛtavarmā suvarṇapīṭhaṁ mahaddhanuḥ ṭaṅkāraṁ kṛtvā suvarṇapakṣair bāṇaiḥ Sātyakiṁ agre gacchantaṁ nivārayām āsa |
Sañjaya said: Rukmavarmā and the others checked him with arrows fitted with golden nocks. Then Kṛtavarmā—adorned with a golden banner, wearing golden armlets and a golden cuirass—twanged his great bow with its golden back and, with arrows winged in gold, halted Sātyaki from advancing. In the moral atmosphere of the war, the verse highlights how martial splendor and prowess are employed to obstruct an opponent’s righteous momentum, showing the relentless contest of duty-bound warriors on opposing sides.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores kṣatriya-dharma in its starkest form: warriors, bound to their side and duty, employ skill and intimidation to restrain an advancing foe. It also suggests that outward splendor (golden arms and standards) serves as a psychological instrument in battle, yet does not itself determine righteousness—only steadfast adherence to one’s chosen duty does.
Sañjaya describes how Rukmavarmā and others first check the opponent with golden-nocked arrows. Immediately after, Kṛtavarmā, magnificently equipped, twangs his great bow and shoots golden-feathered arrows to stop Sātyaki from moving forward.