Shloka 38

Bhūriśravas–Sātyaki Saṃvāda and Duel; Arjuna’s Intervention (भूरिश्रवाः–सात्यकि संवादः, युद्धम्, अर्जुन-हस्तक्षेपः)

Devanagari script

सात्यकिं छिन्नथन्वानं प्रहसन्निव भारत

Transliteration

sātyakiṃ chinnathanvānaṃ prahasann iva bhārata

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Wahai Bhārata, Sātyaki—meski busurnya telah tertebas—tampak seolah-olah tersenyum, menyambut bahaya dengan ketenangan tanpa gentar di tengah keganasan perang.

Word by Word

• सात्यकिम्: Sātyaki (as object)
• सात्यकिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सात्यकि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• छिन्नथन्वानम्: whose bow is cut / bow-cut
• छिन्नथन्वानम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिन्न-धन्वन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रहसन्: laughing, smiling
• प्रहसन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: as if, like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• भारत: O Bhārata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Sātyaki
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by the vocative Bhārata)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadiness under adversity: even when disarmed (his bow cut), Sātyaki maintains fearless poise. In the epic’s ethical frame, such composure reflects the kṣatriya ideal of meeting danger without panic or loss of resolve.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Sātyaki’s bow has been cut, yet Sātyaki appears as if laughing—suggesting confidence and undiminished fighting spirit despite a sudden setback in battle.