Shloka 7
Adhyāya 143: Nocturnal duels—Nākuli and Citraseṇa; Vṛṣasena’s assault; Duḥśāsana vs Prativindhya
उदीची दक्षिणां प्राचीं प्रतीचीं विदिशस्तथा । नृत्यन्निवाचरच्छूरो यथा रथशतं तथा,वे इतनी फुर्तीसे इधर-उधर जाते थे कि मैं उन्हें पश्चिम दिशामें देखकर तुरंत ही पूर्व दिशामें भी उपस्थित देखता था, सैकड़ों रथियोंके समान वे शूरवीर सात्यकि उत्तर, दक्षिण, पूर्व और पश्चिम तथा कोणवर्ती दिशाओंमें भी नाचते हुए-से विचर रहे थे
udīcīṁ dakṣiṇāṁ prācīṁ pratīcīṁ vidiśas tathā | nṛtyann ivācarac chūro yathā rathaśataṁ tathā ||
Sañjaya berkata: Pahlawan Sātyaki bergerak seolah-olah menari—merentas utara, selatan, timur, barat, dan juga arah antara—begitu pantas sehingga dia tampak seperti seratus orang kusir kereta perang sekaligus, muncul di satu arah lalu serta-merta di arah yang lain di tengah himpitan pertempuran.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights exemplary martial discipline and presence of mind: true prowess in war is not mere force but controlled agility, situational awareness, and the capacity to protect one’s side by being effectively ‘everywhere’ through swift, purposeful action.
Sañjaya describes Sātyaki’s extraordinary speed and maneuvering on the battlefield. He darts through all directions and even the intermediate quarters, appearing so rapidly from place to place that he seems comparable to a hundred chariot-warriors acting simultaneously.