Shloka 54
Adhyāya 104 — Śikhaṇḍin-puraskāraḥ (Śikhaṇḍin as Vanguard) and Bhīṣma’s Counter-Advance
शराणां च सहस्रेण पुनरेव समुद्यतः । सात्यकिश्छादयामास ननाद च महाबल:,महाबली सात्यकिने पुनः एक हजार बाणोंकी वर्षा करके अश्वत्थामाको ढक दिया और बड़े जोरसे गर्जना की
śarāṇāṃ ca sahasreṇa punar eva samudyataḥ | sātyakiś chādayāmāsa nanāda ca mahābalaḥ ||
Disse Sañjaya: Erguendo-se mais uma vez, o poderoso Sātyaki cobriu Aśvatthāman com uma chuva de mil flechas, ocultando-o da vista, e então rugiu em alta voz com grande força—um gesto para afirmar domínio e reanimar a determinação em meio ao caos da batalha.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a kṣatriya battlefield ethic: decisive action, steadfastness after setbacks (“once again”), and the use of force and morale (the roar) to protect one’s side and uphold one’s duty in war.
Sātyaki renews his attack and releases a dense volley—described as a thousand arrows—so intense that Aśvatthāmā is effectively ‘covered’ by it; Sātyaki then roars, signaling confidence and intimidating the opponent.