Shloka 243
Nakula–Śakuni Duel and the Night Battle; Śikhaṇḍin–Kṛpa Engagement (नकुल-शकुनियुद्धं तथा रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)
अप्राप्तानस्त्रमायाभिरग्रसत् सात्यकि: प्रभो । प्रजानाथ! प्रभो! सात्यकिने भूरिश्रवाके उन तीखे बाणोंको अपने पास आनेके पूर्व ही अपने अस्त्र-बलसे आकाश्में ही नष्ट कर दिये
aprāptān astramāyābhir agrasat sātyakiḥ prabho | prajānātha prabho sātyakine bhūriśravāke un tīkhē bāṇōṃko apane pāsa āneke pūrva hī apane astra-balase ākāśeṃ hī naṣṭa kara diye
Sañjaya said: O lord, before those sharp arrows could even reach him, Sātyaki, by the power of his weapons and counter-missiles, destroyed them in mid-air. Thus, in the heat of battle, Bhūriśravā’s assault was checked without allowing harm to fall upon the warrior—an image of disciplined skill used to avert injury rather than merely to retaliate.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined martial restraint: true prowess is shown not only by striking, but by preventing harm through timely, skillful counteraction—using power to protect and neutralize danger.
Bhūriśravā launches a fierce arrow-attack, but Sātyaki intercepts and destroys the incoming missiles before they reach him, shattering them in the sky through superior weapon-skill.