Shloka 11
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
गजों और गजारोहियोंने रथियों
kaikeyau sātyakiṃ yuddhe śaravarṣeṇa bhāsvatā | sātyakiḥ kekayau cāpi cchādayāmāsa bhārata ||
サンジャヤは語った。「その戦では、象と象乗りが車戦者・騎兵・歩兵を討ち、歩兵が車戦者・騎兵・象乗りを倒し、騎兵が車戦者・歩兵・象乗りを斬り、車戦者もまた歩兵と象乗りを打ち伏せた。かくて戦場にて、カイケーヤの勇士は燦然たる矢の雨でサーティヤキを覆い、サーティヤキもまた、バーラタよ、ケーカヤの勇士を矢で覆い返した。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the momentum of warfare: once combat is joined, even celebrated heroes respond to attack with counter-attack. It implicitly contrasts kṣatriya valor with the ethical cost of escalation—prowess becomes a cycle of retaliation rather than a space for restraint.
Sañjaya reports a duel-like exchange: a Kaikeya/Kekaya warrior showers Sātyaki with brilliant arrows, and Sātyaki immediately answers by covering his opponent with missiles as well, intensifying the battlefield clash.