Adhyāya 143: Nocturnal duels—Nākuli and Citraseṇa; Vṛṣasena’s assault; Duḥśāsana vs Prativindhya
एष दुर्योधन जित्वा भ्रातृभि: सहितं रणे । निहत्य जलसंध॑ च क्षिप्रमायाति सात्यकि:,“यह सात्यकि रणभूमिमें भाइयोंसहित दुर्योधनको जीतकर और जलसंधका वध करके शीघ्र यहाँ आ रहा है
sañjaya uvāca |
eṣa duryodhanaṃ jitvā bhrātṛbhiḥ sahitaṃ raṇe |
nihatya jalasaṃdhaṃ ca kṣipram āyāti sātyakiḥ |
Sañjaya berkata: “Lihatlah—Sātyaki datang ke sini dengan pantas, setelah menewaskan Jalasaṃdha dan menundukkan Duryodhana di medan perang walaupun dia berdiri bersama saudara-saudaranya.”
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how, in a dharma-contested war, actions are judged by their immediate ethical and strategic impact: defeating a powerful opponent and removing a dangerous fighter can open a path for protecting allies and fulfilling one’s duty to one’s side.
Sañjaya reports that Sātyaki has defeated Duryodhana even while he was supported by his brothers, has killed the warrior Jalasaṃdha, and is now quickly approaching—indicating momentum shifting in the ongoing battle.