Shloka 253
भूरिश्रवसः गर्हा, प्रायोपवेशः, सात्यकिकृतशिरच्छेदः
Bhūriśravas’s Censure, Prāyopaveśa, and Sātyaki’s Beheading
ग्रस्यमानं सात्यकिना खे सोममिव राहुणा । जैसे आकाशमें राहु चन्द्रमापर ग्रहण लगाता है, उसी प्रकार सात्यकिद्वारा राजा दुर्योधनको ग्रस्त होते देख वहाँ सब लोगोंमें हाहाकार मच गया
grasyamānaṃ sātyakinā khe somam iva rāhuṇā |
सञ्जय उवाच— यथा खे सोमं राहुर् ग्रसति, तथा सात्यकिना दुर्योधनः समन्तात् परिगृहीत इवाभात्। तं नृपं ग्रस्यमानं दृष्ट्वा तत्र सर्वेषां जनानां हाहाकारो महान् अभवत्॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses the eclipse image to highlight the fragility of power in battle: when a leader is suddenly threatened, collective morale collapses. Ethically, it points to the consequences of adharma-driven ambition—security based on force can be eclipsed in an instant.
Sañjaya reports that Sātyaki is pressing Duryodhana so hard that it looks like Duryodhana is being ‘swallowed’—like the Moon during an eclipse by Rāhu. Witnessing this, the surrounding warriors and onlookers erupt in a general outcry.