Shloka 26

Adhyāya 21 — Duryodhanasya bāṇavarṣaḥ

Duryodhana’s Arrow-Storm and the Dust-Obscured Engagements

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्‌ सात्यकिना वीरे द्वैरथे विरथीकृते

Transliteration

tasmin sātyakinā vīre dvairathe virathīkṛte

Translation

サンジャヤは言った――車上より戦うその勇士が、サーティヤキによって戦車を奪われ、車を失う者となったとき、戦の均衡はたちまち傾いた。戦においては、武勇と策が一瞬にして、戦士が戦場での役目と名誉を支えるその拠りどころを奪い去ることがあるのだ。

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in that (situation/place)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• सात्यकिना: by Sātyaki
• सात्यकिना: Karana
• Type: Noun (Proper)
• Root: सात्यकि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• वीरे: in/with regard to the hero
• वीरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• द्वैरथे: in the chariot-fight / in the duel on chariots
• द्वैरथे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: द्वैरथ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• विरथीकृते: when made chariotless (disarmed of chariot)
• विरथीकृते: Adhikarana
• Type: Kridanta (Past Passive Participle)
• Root: विरथीकृत
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• सात्यकि (Sātyaki)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the fragility of martial advantage: a warrior’s status and effectiveness in battle can depend on external supports (like a chariot), and skillful action can abruptly remove those supports—testing composure, duty, and honor under sudden reversal.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Sātyaki has rendered a heroic chariot-fighter ‘chariotless’—either by disabling the chariot or forcing the warrior off it—marking a decisive moment in the ongoing combat.