Shloka 15
वृता व्यूहेन महता पाण्ड्याश्नोला: सकेरला: । धृष्टद्युम्न, शिखण्डी, द्रौपदीके पुत्र, प्रभद्रक, सात्यकि, चेकितान, द्राविड सैनिकोंसहित महान् व्यूहसे घिरे हुए पाण्डय, चोल तथा केरल योद्धाओंने धावा किया ।। व्यूढोरस्का दीर्घभुजा: प्रांशव: पृथुलोचना:,वार्यमाणौ ततस्तौ हि शैनेयशरवृष्टिभि: । शैनेयस्य रथं तूर्ण छादयामासतु: शरै: सात्यकिकी बाण-वर्षासे रोके जाते हुए उन दोनों राजकुमारोंने तुरंत ही उनके रथको बाणोंसे आच्छादित कर दिया
sañjaya uvāca |
vṛtā vyūhena mahatā pāṇḍyāś ca colāḥ sakeralāḥ |
dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ śikhaṇḍī draupadeyāḥ prabhadrakāḥ |
sātyakiś cekitāno drāviḍaiḥ sainikaiḥ saha |
mahāvyūhena parivṛtāḥ pāṇḍya-cola-keralāḥ samare prādravan ||
vyūḍhoraskā dīrghabhujāḥ prāṃśavaḥ pṛthulocanāḥ |
vāryamāṇau tataḥ tau hi śaineya-śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ |
śaineyasya rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ chādayām āsatuḥ śaraiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Surrounded by a vast battle-formation, the warriors of the Pāṇḍyas, the Colas, and the Keralas—together with Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Śikhaṇḍī, the sons of Draupadī, the Prabhadrakas, Sātyaki, Cekitāna, and Drāviḍa troops—rushed forward into the fray. Then two princely fighters, broad-chested, long-armed, tall, and large-eyed, though checked by the arrow-showers of Śaineya (Sātyaki), swiftly covered Śaineya’s chariot with their own shafts. The scene underscores the relentless momentum of war: even when restrained, warriors press on through skill and resolve, and formations and alliances become instruments through which duty to one’s side is enacted amid escalating violence.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the kṣatriya ethos in wartime: duty is pursued through coordinated formations and steadfast effort even under resistance. It also implicitly warns how collective resolve and tactical skill can intensify conflict, making restraint difficult once battle momentum builds.
A large Pāṇḍava-aligned force—southern contingents and key commanders—charges while enclosed within a major formation. Two princely warriors, though impeded by Sātyaki’s arrow-showers, retaliate by rapidly blanketing Sātyaki’s chariot with arrows.