Shloka 1
भीमसेन-धृष्टद्युम्नयोर्वाक्यं
Bhīmasena and Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s Speeches on Kṣātra-Dharma
अत-#-रा- षट्षष्ट्याॉधिेकशततमो< ध्याय: सात्यकिके द्वारा भूरिका वध, घटोत्कच और अभ्चृत्थामाका घोर युद्ध तथा भीमके साथ दुर्योधनका युद्ध एवं दुर्योधनका पलायन संजय उवाच भूरिस्तु समरे राजन् शैनेयं रथिनां वरम् | आपतन्तमपासेधत् प्रयाणादिव कुज्जरम्,संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! जैसे कोई हाथीको उसके निकलनेके स्थानसे ही रोक दे, उसी प्रकार भूरिने आक्रमण करते हुए रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ सात्यकिको समरभूमिमें आगे बढ़नेसे रोक दिया
sañjaya uvāca | bhūris tu samare rājan śaineyaṁ rathināṁ varam | āpatantam apāsedhat prayāṇād iva kuñjaram ||
Sañjaya said: O King, in the thick of battle Bhūri checked Śaineya—Sātyaki, the foremost among chariot-warriors—when he came charging on. He stopped his advance as one might halt an elephant right at the very point of its going forth. The verse underscores how, amid the moral chaos of war, individual prowess and tactical restraint can abruptly redirect even the most formidable momentum.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a war driven by larger destinies, outcomes often hinge on immediate human capacities—courage, timing, and restraint. The image of stopping an elephant at its very surge highlights how disciplined resistance can neutralize overwhelming force, reminding readers that power must be met with skill and steadiness rather than panic.
Sātyaki (Śaineya), renowned among chariot-fighters, charges forward in battle. Bhūri confronts him and successfully checks his advance, likened to halting an elephant at the moment it tries to move out.