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Shloka 173

अभ्यद्रवन्त शैनेयमसंख्येयाश्ष पत्तय: । तत्पश्चात्‌ एक हजार रथी, सौ महारथी, एक हजार हाथी और दो हजार घुड़सवारोंके साथ बहुत-से महारथी और असंख्य पैदल सैनिक सात्यकिपर नाना प्रकारके बाणोंकी वर्षा करते हुए टूट पड़े

abhyadravanta śaineyam asaṅkhyeyāś ca pattayaḥ | tatpaścāt eka-sahasra-rathī, śata-mahārathī, eka-sahasra-hastī ca dvi-sahasra-aśvārūḍhāḥ bahavaś ca mahārathā asaṅkhyeyāś ca padātayaḥ sātyakim nānā-vidhaiḥ śaraiḥ varṣayantaḥ samantāt pratyapatanta |

Sañjaya disse: Incontáveis soldados de infantaria correram sobre Śaineya (Sātyaki). Depois deles vieram mil guerreiros de carro, cem grandes guerreiros de carro, mil elefantes e dois mil cavaleiros; juntamente com muitos outros combatentes poderosos e uma infantaria inumerável, avançaram contra Sātyaki de todos os lados, derramando sobre ele uma chuva de flechas de muitos tipos. A cena ressalta o ímpeto implacável da guerra: um único aliado da retidão é provado por uma força esmagadora, e a coragem mede-se não pela facilidade, mas pela firmeza em meio à violência em massa.

अभ्यद्रवन्तran towards, charged
अभ्यद्रवन्त:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-√द्रु (द्रवति)
Formलङ् (Imperfect), 3, Plural, Parasmaipada
शैनेयम्upon Śaineya (Sātyaki)
शैनेयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशैनेय (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
असंख्येयाःcountless
असंख्येयाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअसंख्येय (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
पत्तयःfoot-soldiers
पत्तयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तत्then/that (thereafter)
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
पश्चात्afterwards
पश्चात्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपश्चात्
Formtrue

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
Ś
Śaineya (Sātyaki)
I
infantry (pattayaḥ/padātayaḥ)
C
chariot-warriors (rathī)
G
great chariot-warriors (mahārathī)
W
war-elephants (hastī)
H
horsemen/cavalry (aśvārūḍhāḥ)
A
arrows (śarāḥ)

Educational Q&A

The passage highlights steadfastness under extreme pressure: dharma in war is tested when a lone ally faces overwhelming numbers, and ethical strength appears as courage, discipline, and refusal to abandon one’s duty despite fear and violence.

Sañjaya reports that Sātyaki (Śaineya) is charged by innumerable infantry, followed by large formations of chariots, elite chariot-warriors, elephants, and cavalry, all attacking from every side while raining diverse arrows upon him.