Shloka 25
Irāvān-nidhana-anantaraṃ Ghaṭotkaca-nādaḥ
After Irāvān’s fall: Ghaṭotkaca’s roar and the clash with Duryodhana
भूमिष्ठो गौतमस्तस्य शरांश्षिक्षेप षोडश । शरास्ते सात्वतं भित्त्वा प्राविशन् धरणीतलम्,तब कृपाचार्यने भूमिपर ही खड़े होकर चेकितानको सोलह बाण मारे। वे बाण चेकितानको छेदकर धरतीमें समा गये
bhūmiṣṭho gautamas tasya śarān śikṣepa ṣoḍaśa | śarās te sātvataṃ bhittvā prāviśan dharaṇītalam ||
Sañjaya berkata: Berdiri teguh di atas bumi, Gautama (Kṛpācārya) melepaskan enam belas anak panah ke arahnya. Anak-anak panah itu menembusi pahlawan Sātvata lalu tenggelam ke permukaan tanah—menampakkan ketepatan perang yang tidak mengenal belas, ketika kemahiran dan keteguhan hati, bukan kasihan, memerintah saat itu.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the battlefield ethic of steadfastness and trained precision: in war, disciplined action (śikṣā/skill) and unwavering stance determine outcomes, while the moral weight lies in fulfilling one’s role within the larger dharmic conflict.
Sañjaya reports that Kṛpācārya (called Gautama) shoots sixteen arrows at the Sātvata warrior Cekitāna; the arrows pierce him and continue into the ground, emphasizing the force and accuracy of the attack.