Shloka 18
Śaineya–Bhūriśravas: Genealogy, Svayaṃvara Contest, and the Maheśvara Boon
अथान्यद् धनुरादाय सात्यकि: सत्यविक्रम: । विव्याध बहुभिवररं भारद्वाजं शिलाशितै:,तब सत्यपराक्रमी सात्यकिने दूसरा धनुष लेकर सानपर तेज किये हुए बहुसंख्यक बाणोंद्वारा वीर द्रोणाचार्यको बींध डाला
athānyad dhanur ādāya sātyakiḥ satyavikramaḥ | vivyādha bahubhir vīraṃ bhāradvājaṃ śilāśitaiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then Sātyaki, whose valor never failed, took up another bow and pierced the heroic Bhāradvāja (Droṇācārya) with many arrows sharpened on stone. The scene underscores the relentless momentum of battle, where even revered teachers become targets, and prowess is measured by unwavering resolve amid the harsh demands of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the uncompromising nature of kṣatriya-duty in war: personal reverence (even toward a famed teacher like Droṇa) does not halt combat when one is bound to a side and a cause. It also reflects the ethical tension of the epic—dharma in battle often demands harsh action, and valor is portrayed as steadiness under that burden.
Sañjaya reports that Sātyaki switches to another bow and showers Droṇācārya with numerous stone-whetted arrows, wounding him. It is a moment of intensified engagement against Droṇa during the Drona Parva battle sequence.