Shloka 23

धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — सात्यकि-अलम्बुसयोर्युद्धवर्णनम्

Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue; Account of Sātyaki vs Alambusa

Devanagari script

निवार्य तु रणे द्रोणो युयुधानं महारथम्‌ । विव्याध निशितैर्बाणै: पञ्चभिर्मर्मभेदिभि:,द्रोणाचार्यने रणक्षेत्रमें महारथी युयुधानको रोककर मर्मस्थलको विदीर्ण कर देनेवाले पाँच पैने बाणोंसे उन्हें घायल कर दिया

Transliteration

nivārya tu raṇe droṇo yuyudhānaṃ mahāratham | vivyādha niśitair bāṇaiḥ pañcabhir marmabhedibhiḥ ||

Translation

सञ्जय उवाच—रणे द्रोणो महारथं युयुधानं निवार्य निशितैः पञ्चभिः मर्मभेदिभिः शरैः विव्याध।

Word by Word

निवार्यhaving restrained/stopped

तुbut/indeed

रणेin battle

द्रोणःDrona

युयुधानम्Yuyudhana (Satyaki)

महारथम्the great chariot-warrior

विव्याधpierced/wounded

निशितैःwith sharp

बाणैःarrows

पञ्चभिःwith five

मर्मभेदिभिःwith vital-spot-piercing (arrows)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Droṇa (Droṇācārya)

Yuyudhāna (Sātyaki)

arrows (bāṇa)

vital points (marman)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the battlefield ethic of kṣatriya-dharma: a commander like Droṇa must decisively neutralize a formidable opponent. It also highlights the moral tension of war—excellence in skill (precision at vital points) is praised as prowess, yet it serves a violent end dictated by allegiance and duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Droṇa intercepts (checks) Yuyudhāna/Sātyaki in combat and wounds him by shooting five sharp arrows aimed at vital points, indicating a serious, targeted strike in the ongoing battle.