Shloka 243
शैनेयं शरवर्षेणच्छादयामास भारत । भारत! तत्पश्चात् प्रतापी द्रोणपुत्रने दूसरा धनुष लेकर सात्यकिको शरसमूहोंकी वर्षद्वारा आच्छादित कर दिया
śaineyaṃ śaravarṣeṇa cchādayāmāsa bhārata | tataḥ paścāt pratāpī droṇaputraḥ sātayakiṃ dvitīyaṃ dhanuḥ gṛhītvā śarasamūhair vṛṣṭyā āvṛṇot ||
Sañjaya said: O Bhārata, Aśvatthāman, the mighty son of Droṇa, covered Śaineya (Sātyaki) with a rain of arrows. Then, taking up another bow, that valiant warrior again enveloped Sātyaki with dense volleys—an image of relentless martial resolve, where prowess is displayed without pause amid the harsh ethics of battlefield duty.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the battlefield expression of kṣatriya-dharma: unwavering effort and readiness to continue the fight even after changing weapons. Ethically, it reflects the grim discipline of war—skill and persistence are praised, while the narrative remains aware of the harsh cost of such duty.
Sañjaya reports that Aśvatthāman (Droṇa’s son) overwhelms Sātyaki (called Śaineya) with continuous volleys of arrows; then he takes up another bow and again covers him with arrow-showers, intensifying the duel.