Shloka 23

Nakula–Śakuni Duel and the Night Battle; Śikhaṇḍin–Kṛpa Engagement (नकुल-शकुनियुद्धं तथा रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

दशभि: सात्यकि विद्ध्वा सौमदत्तिरथापरान्‌

Transliteration

daśabhiḥ sātyakiṃ viddhvā saumadattir athāparān

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。「サウマダッティはサーティヤキを十本の矢で射抜くと、さらに他の者たちへも攻めを転じた。この光景は、戦の容赦ない推進力を示す。武の優劣は、激しさが増すさなかにあっても、力のみならず、節度と志によっても量られるのだ。」

Word by Word

• दशभिः: with ten (arrows)
• दशभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्
• Form: नपुंसक, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सात्यकिम्: Sātyaki
• सात्यकिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सात्यकि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विद्ध्वा: having pierced/struck
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), कर्तरि

• सौमदत्तिः: Saumadatti (Bhūriśravas)
• सौमदत्तिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौमदत्ति
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रथापरान्: other chariot-warriors
• रथापरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथापर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Sātyaki
• Saumadatti (Bhūriśravas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya battlefield ethic: skill and resolve are displayed through precise action, yet the moral weight lies in how power is directed—whether toward duty and protection or toward unchecked aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Saumadatti (Bhūriśravas) wounds Sātyaki with ten arrows and then proceeds to attack other warriors, indicating a continuing, widening engagement in the Drona Parva battle.