Shloka 1
Śaineya–Bhūriśravas: Genealogy, Svayaṃvara Contest, and the Maheśvara Boon
/ अप ह< बक। है २ >> सप्तदशाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: सात्यकि और द्रोणाचार्यका युद्ध, द्रोणकी पराजय तथा कौरव-सेनाका पलायन संजय उवाच काल्यमानेषु सैन्येषु शैनेयेन ततस्तत: । भारद्वाज: शख्रातैर्महद्धिः: समवाकिरत्,संजय कहते हैं--महाराज! जब सात्यकि जहाँ-तहाँ जा-जाकर आपकी सेनाओंको कालके गालमें भेजने लगे, तब भरद्वाजनन्दन द्रोणाचार्यने उनपर महान् बाणसमूहोंकी वर्षा प्रारम्भ कर दी
sañjaya uvāca | kālyamāneṣu sainyeṣu śaineyena tatastataḥ | bhāradvājaḥ śaravrātair mahadbhir samavākirat ||
Sanjaya said: O King, as Sātyaki (the grandson of Śini) moved about from place to place, sending your troops into the jaws of Death, Bhāradvāja’s son Droṇa showered him with great volleys of arrows. The scene frames the grim ethics of war: prowess and duty drive both sides, yet the cost is measured in lives swept away by relentless martial skill.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between dharma as warrior-duty and the moral weight of warfare: even when actions are framed as rightful combat, they culminate in Kāla—death—reminding the listener that victory and skill carry grave human cost.
Sātyaki is cutting through the Kaurava forces across the battlefield; in response, Droṇa counters by unleashing heavy volleys of arrows, attempting to check Sātyaki’s advance and protect the Kaurava ranks.