Shloka 28
वार्ष्णेयस्य रथाद् भीष्म: पातयामास सारथिम् । तब भीष्मने अत्यन्त भयंकर तीक्ष्ण बाणका संधान करके सात्यकिके रथसे उनके सारथिको मार गिराया ।। तस्याश्चाः प्रद्गुता राजन् निहते रथसारथौ,राजन! रथ-सारथिके मारे जानेपर सात्यकिके घोड़े वहाँसे भाग चले
sañjaya uvāca |
vārṣṇeyasya rathād bhīṣmaḥ pātayāmāsa sārathim |
tasya aśvāḥ pradrutā rājan nihate ratha-sārathau |
Sañjaya berkata: Bhīṣma menumbangkan sais dari atas kereta Vārṣṇeya (Sātyaki). Apabila pemandu kereta itu terbunuh, wahai Raja, kuda-kuda Sātyaki pun terkejut lalu meluru lari. Dalam etika medan perang yang kejam, jatuhnya sais serta-merta menukar kepakaran seorang pahlawan menjadi ketidakberdayaan, memperlihatkan bahawa perang bukan sahaja menyasar wira, tetapi juga para penyokong yang memungkinkan pertempuran berlangsung.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a harsh battlefield reality: a warrior’s prowess depends on supporting roles (like the charioteer). In war, striking at these supports can decide outcomes, revealing the fragility of martial power and the morally grim logic of kṣatriya warfare.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma shoots down the charioteer of Vārṣṇeya/Sātyaki. With the driver dead, Sātyaki’s horses panic and run, disrupting the chariot and placing the warrior at a tactical disadvantage.