Shloka 46
Adhyāya 104 — Śikhaṇḍin-puraskāraḥ (Śikhaṇḍin as Vanguard) and Bhīṣma’s Counter-Advance
सोअन्यत् कार्मुकमादाय शत्रुघ्न भारसाधनम् | द्रौर्णिं षष्ट्या महाराज बाह्दोरुरसि चार्पयत्,महाराज! तब सात्यकिने भार-साधनमें समर्थ एवं शत्रुविनाशक दूसरा धनुष हाथमें लेकर साठ बाणोंद्वारा अश्वत्थामाकी भुजाओं तथा छातीको छेद डाला
so 'nyat kārmukam ādāya śatrughna-bhāra-sādhanam | drauṇiṁ ṣaṣṭyā mahārāja bāhvor urasi cārpayat ||
महाराज! तेव्हा सात्यकीने युद्धाचा भार पेलणारे व शत्रुघ्न असे दुसरे धनुष्य हातात घेऊन साठ बाणांनी द्रोणपुत्र अश्वत्थाम्याच्या भुजा व छातीला भेदले.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial excellence and steadfastness in war (kṣatriya-dharma) can coexist with the sobering ethical reality that victory is pursued through injury and destruction; it invites reflection on the moral weight carried by warriors even when acting within their duty.
Sañjaya reports that Sātyaki, switching to another strong bow, shoots sixty arrows at Aśvatthāmā (Droṇa’s son), piercing his arms and chest—an intense exchange within the Kurukṣetra battle.