Nakula–Śakuni Duel and the Night Battle; Śikhaṇḍin–Kṛpa Engagement (नकुल-शकुनियुद्धं तथा रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)
सात्यकि: सौमदत्तिश्व शरवृष्ट्या परस्परम्
sātyakiḥ saumadattiś ca śaravṛṣṭyā parasparam
ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಸಾತ್ಯಕಿ ಮತ್ತು ಸೌಮದತ್ತಿ ಸಮರದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಖಾಮುಖಿಯಾಗಿ ಪರಸ್ಪರ ಬಾಣವೃಷ್ಟಿಯನ್ನು ಸುರಿಸಿದರು.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the reciprocal nature of conflict: in war, aggression is met with counter-aggression. It implicitly points to the ethical weight of kṣatriya combat—valor and duty operate within a cycle of retaliation that intensifies suffering.
Sañjaya reports that Sātyaki and Saumadatti (Bhūriśravas) are engaged in direct combat, each striking the other with dense volleys of arrows.