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Shloka 17

सहदेव-राधेय-संग्रामः; शल्य-प्रभावः; अलम्बुस-निवर्तनम्

Sahadeva and Karṇa; Śalya’s pressure; Alambusa’s interception

तथा तु तेनाभिहतस्तरस्वी नप्ता शिनेशक्षुक्रधरप्रभाव: । अलम्बुषस्योत्तमवेगवद्धि- रश्वांश्षतुर्भि्निजघान बाणै:,इस प्रकार अलम्बुषके द्वारा घायल होकर चक्रधारी विष्णुके समान प्रभावशाली और वेगवान्‌ वीर शिनिपौत्र सात्यकिने अपने उत्तम वेगवाले चार बाणोंद्वारा राजा अलम्बुषके चारों घोड़ोंको मार डाला

sañjaya uvāca |

tathā tu tenābhihatas tarasvī naptā śineḥ śakradharaprabhāvaḥ |

alambuṣasyottamavegavaddhir aśvāṃś caturbhir nijaghāna bāṇaiḥ ||

Sañjaya said: Struck by Alambuṣa, the swift Sātyaki—grandson of Śini, radiant in prowess like the wielder of the thunderbolt—responded with disciplined speed and, with four well-aimed arrows, slew Alambuṣa’s four horses. In the harsh ethics of battle, he disables the enemy’s mobility rather than striking blindly, turning injury into controlled counteraction.

तथाthus, in that manner
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
तुbut, indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
तेनby him (by that one)
तेन:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formmasculine/neuter, instrumental, singular
अभिहतःstruck, wounded
अभिहतः:
TypeAdjective
Rootअभि-हन्
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
तरस्वीswift/impetuous hero
तरस्वी:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootतरस्विन्
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
नप्ताgrandson
नप्ता:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनप्तृ
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
शिनेःof Śini
शिनेः:
TypeProper noun
Rootशिनि
Formmasculine, genitive, singular
चक्रधर-प्रभावःhaving the might of the discus-bearer (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
चक्रधर-प्रभावः:
TypeAdjective
Rootचक्रधर + प्रभाव
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
अलम्बुषस्यof Alambuṣa
अलम्बुषस्य:
TypeProper noun
Rootअलम्बुष
Formmasculine, genitive, singular
उत्तम-वेगवत्very swift (as an attribute)
उत्तम-वेगवत्:
TypeAdjective
Rootउत्तम + वेगवत्
Formneuter, accusative, singular
हिindeed, surely
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
अश्वान्horses
अश्वान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअश्व
Formmasculine, accusative, plural
चतुर्भिःwith four
चतुर्भिः:
Karana
TypeNumeral/Adjective
Rootचतुर्
Formmasculine/neuter, instrumental, plural
निजघानslew, struck down
निजघान:
TypeVerb
Rootनि-हन्
Formperfect (liṭ), 3rd, singular
बाणैःwith arrows
बाणैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootबाण
Formmasculine, instrumental, plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
S
Sātyaki
Ś
Śini
A
Alambuṣa
I
Indra (Śakra)
A
arrows (bāṇa)
H
horses (aśva)

Educational Q&A

Even amid violence, the warrior ideal emphasizes controlled, purposeful action: when wounded, Sātyaki answers with measured tactical precision—disabling the opponent’s means of attack—rather than acting from rage.

After being struck by Alambuṣa, Sātyaki swiftly retaliates and, using four arrows, kills Alambuṣa’s four horses, effectively crippling his chariot’s mobility in the ongoing battle.