Shloka 24
सारथिं पातयामास शैनेयस्य रथाद् द्रुतम् धनुष कट जानेपर शक्तिशालियोंमें श्रेष्ठ अश्वत्थामाने शक्ति चलाकर शिनिपौत्र सात्यकिके सारथिको शीघ्र ही रथसे नीचे गिरा दिया |। २३ इ ।। अथान्यद् धनुरादाय द्रोणपुत्र: प्रतापवान्
sārathiṁ pātayāmāsa śaineyasya rathād drutam | śaktīśāliṣu śreṣṭho 'śvatthāmā śaktiṁ calayitvā śinipautra-sātyakeḥ sārathiṁ śīghraṁ rathān nipātayāmāsa || athānyad dhanuḥ ādāya droṇaputraḥ pratāpavān ||
Sañjaya said: Ashvatthāmā, foremost among the mighty wielders of weapons, swiftly struck down the charioteer of Śaineya (Sātyaki) from his chariot by hurling a spear. Then the valiant son of Droṇa took up another bow, pressing the attack further. The episode underscores how, in the fury of battle, even non-combatant supports like charioteers become targets, intensifying the ethical strain of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war rapidly erodes moral boundaries: even those who enable combat (like charioteers) can become targets, showing the ethical pressure and escalation inherent in battlefield conflict.
Sañjaya reports that Ashvatthāmā hurls a spear and knocks down Sātyaki’s charioteer from the chariot, and then Ashvatthāmā takes up another bow to continue fighting.