Shloka 243
धनुश्नास्य रणे छित्त्वा विस्मयन्नर्जुनं ययौ । तब शिनिपौत्र सात्यकि पाँच बाणोंसे आपके पुत्रको रणक्षेत्रमें घायल करके उसका धनुष काटकर मुसकराते हुए वहाँसे अर्जुनकी ओर चल दिये
dhanuś cāsya raṇe chittvā vismayann arjunaṃ yayau | tataḥ śinipautraḥ sātyakiḥ pañca bāṇaiḥ tava putraṃ raṇakṣetre viddhvā tasya dhanuś chittvā smayamānaḥ tato ’rjunasyābhimukhaṃ yayau ||
Sañjaya said: Having cut down his bow in the midst of battle—astonishing Arjuna—Sātyaki, the grandson of Śini, struck your son with five arrows on the battlefield, severed his bow, and then, smiling with confident composure, moved from there toward Arjuna. The moment underscores the warrior’s duty executed with skill and restraint: decisive force without needless cruelty, aimed at turning the tide of the fight rather than indulging in vengeance.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined martial conduct: a warrior uses skill to neutralize an opponent (cutting the bow) and advance the larger duty of the battle, rather than acting from uncontrolled rage. Confidence is shown, but the action remains purposeful—disarming and moving to the next strategic objective.
Sātyaki strikes Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son with five arrows, severs his bow in the fight, and then proceeds—smiling—toward Arjuna, while Arjuna is amazed at Sātyaki’s prowess.