Shloka 22
भूरिश्रवसः गर्हा, प्रायोपवेशः, सात्यकिकृतशिरच्छेदः
Bhūriśravas’s Censure, Prāyopaveśa, and Sātyaki’s Beheading
हत्वा तु चतुरो वाहांश्षतुर्भिनिशितै: शरै: । सारथिं पातयामास क्षुरप्रेण महायशा:,फिर चार तीखे बाणोंसे उसके चारों घोड़ोंको मारकर महायशस्वी सात्यकिने क्षुरप्रद्वारा उसके सारथिको भी मार गिराया
hatvā tu caturo vāhāṁś caturbhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | sārathiṁ pātayāmāsa kṣurapreṇa mahāyaśāḥ ||
サञ्जयは語った。鋭い四本の矢で四頭の馬を討ち、さらに名高き戦士サーティヤキは剃刀の刃のごとき矢で御者をも打ち倒した――戦場の苛烈な必然に従い、敵の戦車を決定的に無力化したのである。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse reflects the harsh logic of kṣatriya warfare: disabling an opponent’s mobility and command (horses and charioteer) is a decisive tactic. Ethically, it illustrates how, within the Mahābhārata’s war setting, duty-driven action can prioritize strategic necessity over ordinary peacetime norms.
Sañjaya narrates that the famed warrior Sātyaki shoots four sharp arrows to kill the four horses of an enemy chariot, and then uses a razor-edged arrow to strike down the charioteer, effectively neutralizing the chariot in combat.