Shloka 10

Adhyāya 143: Nocturnal duels—Nākuli and Citraseṇa; Vṛṣasena’s assault; Duḥśāsana vs Prativindhya

Devanagari script

तैर्व्यवाहरदार्यात्मा मुहूतदिव सात्यकि: । ततः कलिड्रैर्युयुधे सोडचिन्त्यबलविक्रम:,तब अचिन्त्य बल और पराक्रमसे सम्पन्न महामना सात्यकिने उनके साथ युद्ध करके दो ही घड़ीमें उन्हें हा दिया और फिर वे कलिंगदेशीय सैनिकोंके साथ युद्ध करने लगे

Transliteration

taiḥ vyavāharad āryātmā muhūrtād iva sātyakiḥ | tataḥ kaliṅgair yuyudhe so 'cintyabala-vikramaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Noble-souled Sātyaki engaged them in combat and, as it were within a mere moment, struck them down. Thereafter, that high-minded warrior—endowed with unimaginable strength and prowess—fought against the Kaliṅga troops. The passage underscores the relentless momentum of battle and the warrior’s steadfast execution of his martial duty amid escalating opposition.

Word by Word

तैःby them / with them

व्यवहारदार्यात्माhe whose nature is noble in conduct

मुहूर्त-द्वि-वाwithin two muhūrtas (about two hours)

सात्यकिःSātyaki

ततःthen / thereafter

कलिङ्गैःwith the Kalingas

युयुधेfought

सोडचिन्त्य-बल-विक्रमःhe who possesses inconceivable strength and prowess

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Sātyaki (Yuyudhāna)

Kaliṅga warriors (Kaliṅgas)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfast performance of a warrior’s duty (kṣatriya-dharma): acting decisively in battle without hesitation, demonstrating courage and resolve even as new opponents arise.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sātyaki quickly defeats the group he is facing and immediately turns to fight the Kaliṅga contingent, showing continuous momentum and exceptional prowess on the battlefield.