Shloka 25
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
रक्ष्यमाणश्न बलिभिश्छादयामास सात्यकिम् । त॑ छाद्यमानं विशिखैर्दृष्टवा संनतपर्वभि:
sañjaya uvāca | rakṣyamāṇaś ca balibhiś chādayāmāsa sātyakim | taṁ chādyamānaṁ viśikhair dṛṣṭvā saṁnataparvabhiḥ ||
रक्ष्यमाणश्च बलिभिश्छादयामास सात्यकिम् । तं छाद्यमानं विशिखैर्दृष्ट्वा सन्नतपर्वभिः ॥
सयजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield ethic: individual prowess is not enough—protection, coordinated support, and alert guardianship are crucial. It also implies the moral weight of responsibility borne by protectors when a warrior under their care is overwhelmed.
Sañjaya narrates that Sātyaki, despite being guarded by strong allies, is nevertheless overwhelmed—‘covered’—by a dense shower of well-made arrows, indicating a fierce concentrated attack against him.