Shloka 43
जयद्रथवधः — The Slaying of Jayadratha
Sunset Vow and Curse-Condition
भित्त्वा देहांस्तथा तेषां शरा जम्मुर्महीतलम् | ते हन्यमाना वीरेण म्लेच्छा: सात्यकिना रणे
bhittvā dehāṁs tathā teṣāṁ śarā jagmur mahītalam | te hanyamānā vīreṇa mlecchāḥ sātyakinā raṇe ||
Sañjaya said: Having pierced their bodies, the arrows then fell upon the earth. Those Mleccha warriors, being struck down in battle by the heroic Sātyaki, were slain—showing the relentless, consequence-laden momentum of war where valor and duty manifest through uncompromising violence.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the inexorable nature of battle: once martial action is set in motion, its consequences unfold with certainty. It reflects the kṣatriya world where valor and duty are expressed through decisive combat, even as it highlights the grim ethical weight of violence.
Sañjaya describes Sātyaki’s effectiveness in combat: his arrows pierce the enemy bodies and then drop to the ground, while the Mleccha fighters are being cut down by him on the battlefield.