Mahabharata 7.118.326 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 118, Shloka 326
भूरिश्रवसः गर्हा, प्रायोपवेशः, सात्यकिकृतशिरच्छेदः
Bhūriśravas’s Censure, Prāyopaveśa, and Sātyaki’s Beheading
निशितै: सायकैस्ती&णैर्यन्तारं चास्य पठचभि: । कृतवमनि सात्यकिपर तेज धारवाले छब्बीस तीखे बाण चलाये और पाँच बाणोंद्वारा उनके सारथिको भी घायल कर दिया
niśitaiḥ sāyakais tīkṣṇair yantāraṃ cāsya pañcabhiḥ | kṛtavarmāṇi sātyakiḥ prahṛṣṭas teja-dhāribhiḥ ṣaḍviṃśatyā tīkṣṇaiḥ śaraiḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—निशितैः सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैर्यन्तारं चास्य पञ्चभिः । कृतवर्माणं सात्यकिस्तेजसा ज्वलन् षड्विंशत्या शरैर्व्यविध्यत् ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war intensifies beyond single combat: disabling the charioteer is a tactical act that can decide life and death. It brings forward the ethical strain within kṣatriya-dharma—victory pursued through skill and force, yet shadowed by the suffering inflicted on all participants, including supporting figures.
Sañjaya reports that Sātyaki shoots Kṛtavarmā with twenty-six sharp arrows and then strikes Kṛtavarmā’s charioteer with five arrows, impairing both the warrior and the control of his chariot.
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