Mahabharata 7.118.45 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 118, Shloka 45
भूरिश्रवसः गर्हा, प्रायोपवेशः, सात्यकिकृतशिरच्छेदः
Bhūriśravas’s Censure, Prāyopaveśa, and Sātyaki’s Beheading
प्रेक्षतां सर्वसैन्यानां मध्येन शिनिपुड्भव: । अभ्यागाद्वाहिनीं हित्वा वृत्रहेवासुरी चमूम्
sañjaya uvāca | prekṣatāṁ sarvasainyānāṁ madhyena śinipuḍbhavaḥ | abhyāgād vāhinīṁ hitvā vṛtrahevāsurīṁ camūm ||
प्रेक्षतां सर्वसैन्यानां मध्येन शिनिपुङ्गवः । अभ्यागाद्वाहिनीं हित्वा वृत्रहेवासुरीं चमूम् ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfast courage and decisive action in the midst of collective chaos. Ethically, it reflects the tension of kṣatriya-dharma: a warrior’s duty to act with resolve even when war’s violence is overwhelming, while the Indra–Vṛtra simile frames valor as a force that can pierce seemingly impenetrable opposition.
Sañjaya describes Sātyaki moving straight through the center of the watching armies, leaving one battle-formation and pressing onward. His advance is compared to Indra, famed for slaying Vṛtra, breaking through the Asuras’ host—emphasizing speed, fearlessness, and battlefield dominance.
Ask anything about this verse
Curious about the meaning, context, or a word? Ask, and continue the conversation in the Vedapath app.
A free Google sign-in keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Mahabharata in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.