Shloka 453
Sātyaki-praveśaḥ and Duryodhana-saṃnipātaḥ
Sātyaki’s passage and Duryodhana’s mass engagement
अस्त्रैरस्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठी योधयामास भारत | भारत! तत्पश्चात् अस्त्रवेत्ताओंमें श्रेष्ठ क्षत्रियसंहारक द्रोणाचार्यने दूसरा धनुष हाथमें लेकर विभिन्न अस्त्रोंद्वारा युद्ध आरम्भ किया
sañjaya uvāca | astrair astravidāṃ śreṣṭhī yodhayāmāsa bhārata |
सञ्जय उवाच—अस्त्रैरस्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठी योधयामास भारत । ततः क्षत्रियसंहारे द्रोणो भरद्वाजसुतः । अन्यद्धनुरुपादाय नानास्त्रैः समयोधयत् ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral tension of martial expertise: mastery of astras is admirable as knowledge, yet in adharma-driven conflict it becomes a means of mass harm. It invites reflection on how skill must be governed by dharma, restraint, and right purpose.
Sañjaya reports that the foremost weapon-master (understood in context as Droṇa) resumes or intensifies the fighting by employing various astras, taking up another bow and launching a renewed, deadly phase of battle.