Shloka 58
द्रोणपुत्रस्याग्नेयास्त्रप्रयोगः — अर्जुनस्य ब्राह्मास्त्रप्रतिघातः — व्यासोपदेशः
Aśvatthāmā’s Agneyāstra, Arjuna’s Brāhmāstra Counter, and Vyāsa’s Instruction
तत्र गच्छन्तु बहव: प्रवरा रथसत्तमा:,“अतः बहुत-से श्रेष्ठ महारथी वहाँ उनका सामना करनेके लिये जायँँ। जबतक अर्जुन यह नहीं जानते कि सात्यकि बहुसंख्यक योद्धाओंसे घिर गये हैं, तभीतक तुम सभी शूरवीर बाणोंका प्रहार करनेमें अधिकाधिक शीघ्रता करो
tatra gacchantu bahavaḥ pravarā rathasattamāḥ | ataḥ bahu-se śreṣṭha mahārathī vahāṁ unakā sāmnā karane ke liye jāyāṁ | jabatak arjuna yaha nahīṁ jānate ki sātyaki bahusaṅkhyaka yoddhāoṁ se ghir gaye haiṁ, tabhītak tum sabhī śūravīra bāṇoṁ kā prahāra karane meṁ adhikādhika śīghratā karo ||
Sanjaya said: “Let many of the foremost chariot-warriors go there. Send numerous excellent mahārathas to confront him. Until Arjuna comes to know that Sātyaki has been surrounded by a great multitude of fighters, all you heroes should strike with arrows with the utmost speed.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights battlefield ethics under strain: commanders exploit information asymmetry and timing—acting swiftly before an ally can intervene. It illustrates how strategic urgency can override compassion, sharpening the moral tension of war.
Sanjaya reports a tactical instruction: many top chariot-warriors should rush to confront and attack quickly, aiming to overwhelm Sātyaki while Arjuna remains unaware that Sātyaki has been encircled by numerous fighters.