Shloka 543
Bhūriśravas–Sātyaki Saṃvāda and Duel; Arjuna’s Intervention (भूरिश्रवाः–सात्यकि संवादः, युद्धम्, अर्जुन-हस्तक्षेपः)
विमान पातयामास गजस्कन्धाद् विशाम्पते । प्रजानाथ! युद्धस्थलमें जलसंधको मारकर फुर्ती करनेवाले सात्यकिने हाथीकी पीठसे उसके हौदेको भी गिरा दिया
vimānaṁ pātayāmāsa gajaskandhād viśāmpate | prajānātha! yuddhasthale jala-sandhakaṁ mārakara phurtī karanevāle sātyakine hāthī-kī pīṭh se usake haudeko bhī girā diyā |
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai tuan rakyat sekalian! Sātyaki—pantas dan teguh setelah menewaskan Jalasandhaka di medan perang—telah menjatuhkan dari belakang gajah bahkan howdah, pelantar tempur itu. Adegan ini menegaskan bahawa dalam himpitan perang, keperkasaan dan kepantasan menjadi alat penentu, sehingga sokongan kedudukan musuh sendiri pun berubah menjadi sasaran.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Within the Mahābhārata’s war narrative, the verse highlights how martial excellence—speed, decisiveness, and tactical targeting—can overturn an opponent’s advantage. Ethically, it reflects the grim logic of battlefield dharma: once combat is joined, a warrior’s duty is to neutralize threats efficiently, even by destroying the enemy’s supports and protections.
Sañjaya reports to the king that Sātyaki, after killing the warrior Jalasandhaka, continues his rapid assault and knocks down the howdah (the fighting-platform) from an elephant’s back, intensifying the rout and demonstrating dominance in that encounter.