Shloka 373
Bhūriśravas–Sātyaki Saṃvāda and Duel; Arjuna’s Intervention (भूरिश्रवाः–सात्यकि संवादः, युद्धम्, अर्जुन-हस्तक्षेपः)
अस्यतो वृष्णिवीरस्य निचकर्त शरासनम् | तत्पश्चात् दूसरे तीखे, पैने और पानीदार भल्लसे उसने बाण फेंकते हुए वृष्णिवीर सात्यकिके धनुषको काट डाला
asyato vṛṣṇivīrasya nicakarta śarāsanam | tatpaścāt dvitīyena tīkṣṇena painena pāṇḍurena bhallena bāṇān kṣipan vṛṣṇivīra-sātyakeḥ dhanuṣo 'cchinat ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Ketika wira Vṛṣṇi itu sedang melepaskan anak panah, busurnya dipatahkan. Kemudian, dengan anak panah bhalla yang kedua—setajam pisau cukur, runcing, berkepala pucat—penyerang itu, sambil terus memanah, menetak putus busur sang juara Vṛṣṇi, Sātyaki.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield ethic within kṣatriya-dharma: skill and presence of mind matter as much as strength. When a warrior’s weapon is disabled, the true test becomes steadiness, quick adaptation, and continued commitment to duty despite sudden loss.
During the fighting, an opponent severs the bow of the Vṛṣṇi warrior—identified explicitly as Sātyaki—using a sharp bhalla arrow. The action is tactical: by cutting the bow, the attacker attempts to neutralize Sātyaki’s ability to continue effective archery.