Shloka 176
भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः
Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed
शैनेयं योधयामासुर्भष्मायाभ्युद्यतं रणे । 'सात्यकिके मारे जानेपर मैं पाण्डवोंकी विशाल सेनाको मरी हुई ही मानता हूँ।' दुर्योधनकी इस बातको मानकर कौरव महारथियोंने रणभूमिमें भीष्मका सामना करनेके लिये उद्यत हुए सात्यकिसे युद्ध आरम्भ किया
śaineyaṃ yodhayāmāsur bhasmāyābhyudyataṃ raṇe |
सञ्जय उवाच—रणे शैनेयं (सात्यकिं) कौरवाः समन्तात् समयोधयन्, स भस्मीकर्तुमिव शत्रून् अभ्युद्यतः। ‘सात्यकौ निहते पाण्डवसेना मृतैव’ इति दुर्योधनवचनं मन्यमानाः कौरवमहास्यन्दिनो भीष्मं प्रति प्रस्थितं सात्यकिं समरे समारब्धवन्तः।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, leaders and warriors may treat outcomes as foregone conclusions—equating the fall of a key champion with the collapse of an entire cause. Ethically, it warns against fatalistic certainty and shows how strategic assumptions can intensify violence and harden resolve.
Sātyaki (Śaineya) advances in battle with fierce intent. Accepting Duryodhana’s judgment about the decisive importance of Sātyaki, the Kaurava elite warriors engage him directly, beginning a focused fight against him as he moves to confront Bhīṣma.