Shloka 243
भीमसेनस्य वेगाभिपातः—विशोकसारथिसंवादश्च
Bhīma’s surge and dialogue with charioteer Viśoka
शैनेयं शरवर्षेणच्छादयामास भारत । भारत! तत्पश्चात् प्रतापी द्रोणपुत्रने दूसरा धनुष लेकर सात्यकिको शरसमूहोंकी वर्षद्वारा आच्छादित कर दिया
śaineyaṃ śaravarṣeṇa cchādayāmāsa bhārata | tataḥ paścāt pratāpī droṇaputraḥ sātayakiṃ dvitīyaṃ dhanuḥ gṛhītvā śarasamūhair vṛṣṭyā āvṛṇot ||
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai Bhārata, Aśvatthāmā, putera Droṇa yang perkasa, menutupi Śaineya (Sātyaki) dengan hujan anak panah. Kemudian, setelah mengambil busur yang lain, pahlawan itu sekali lagi menyelubungi Sātyaki dengan rentetan panah yang rapat—gambaran keteguhan perang yang tidak mengenal jeda, memperlihatkan keperkasaan tanpa henti di tengah etika keras kewajipan medan tempur.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the battlefield expression of kṣatriya-dharma: unwavering effort and readiness to continue the fight even after changing weapons. Ethically, it reflects the grim discipline of war—skill and persistence are praised, while the narrative remains aware of the harsh cost of such duty.
Sañjaya reports that Aśvatthāman (Droṇa’s son) overwhelms Sātyaki (called Śaineya) with continuous volleys of arrows; then he takes up another bow and again covers him with arrow-showers, intensifying the duel.