Shloka 16

Sātyaki-praveśaḥ and Duryodhana-saṃnipātaḥ

Sātyaki’s passage and Duryodhana’s mass engagement

Devanagari script

अन्धकारीकृते लोके द्रोणशैनेययो: शरै: । तयो: शीघ्रास्त्रविदुषोद्रोणसात्वतयोस्तदा

Transliteration

andhakārīkṛte loke droṇa-śaineyayor śaraiḥ | tayoḥ śīghrāstraviduṣo droṇa-sātvayayos tadā

Translation

ଦ୍ରୋଣ ଓ ଶୈନେୟଙ୍କ ଶରବର୍ଷାରେ ଯେତେବେଳେ ଲୋକ ଅନ୍ଧକାରିତ ହୋଇଗଲା, ସେତେବେଳେ ଶୀଘ୍ରାସ୍ତ୍ରବିଦ୍ୟାରେ ପାରଙ୍ଗତ ଦ୍ରୋଣ ଓ ସାତ୍ୱତ (ସାତ୍ୟକି) ସେଇ ଯୁଦ୍ଧକୁ ଅଧିକ ତୀବ୍ରତାରେ ଆଗେଇନେଲେ।

Word by Word

• अन्धकारीकृते: when (the world) was darkened
• अन्धकारीकृते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्धकार + कृ (कृते)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• द्रोण: of Droṇa
• द्रोण: Sambandha
• Type: Noun (proper)
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• शैनेययोः: of Śaineya (Sātyaki), (and/or) of the son of Śini
• शैनेययोः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun (proper)
• Root: शैनेय
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• शीघ्र: swift(ly) / quick
• शीघ्र: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीघ्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अस्त्रविदुषोः: of the two experts in weapons
• अस्त्रविदुषोः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: अस्त्रविद्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• द्रोण: of Droṇa
• द्रोण: Sambandha
• Type: Noun (proper)
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• सात्वतयोः: of the two Sātvatas (Vṛṣṇis) / of Sātyaki (as Sātvata)
• सात्वतयोः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun (proper/epithet)
• Root: सात्वत
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• द्रोण (Droṇa)
• शैनेय / सात्यकि (Śaineya/Sātyaki)
• सात्वत (Sātvata—epithet for Sātyaki)
• शर (arrows)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how the intensity of conflict and the display of weapon-skill can metaphorically ‘darken the world’—suggesting that unchecked martial prowess and anger can obscure moral clarity (dharma) even among the highly trained.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a fierce exchange of arrows between Droṇa and Śaineya (Sātyaki). Their rapid, expertly deployed missiles fill the battlefield so densely that it appears darkened, signaling the battle’s escalation.