Shloka 29
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
रथोपस्थं समासाद्य मुमोह गतचेतन: । सुदृढ़ धनुष धारण करनेवाले बलवान सात्यकिके द्वारा समरभूमिमें अत्यन्त घायल किये जानेपर सोमदत्त रथकी बैठकमें जा बैठे और सुध-बुध खोकर मूर्च्छित हो गये || २८ न] त॑ विमूढं समालक्ष्य सारथिस्त्वरया युत:
rathopasthaṃ samāsādya mumoha gatacetanaḥ | sudṛḍhadhanurdhāraṇena balavatā sātyakinā samare bhṛśam abhihatas somadatto rathopasthe niṣasāda ca saṃjñāṃ hitvā mūrcchitaḥ ||
रथोपस्थं समासाद्य मुमोह गतचेतनः। तं विमूढं समालक्ष्य सारथिस्त्वरया युतः।
सयजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the fragility of embodied life amid warfare: even renowned warriors can lose consciousness when struck. It also points to dharma in action at the margins of battle—when a fighter falls, the immediate responsibility shifts to the charioteer/attendant to respond swiftly and protect the incapacitated master.
Sātyaki grievously wounds Somadatta in combat. Somadatta slumps onto the chariot-seat and faints. The next narrative movement (hinted by the fragment about the charioteer noticing him) is the charioteer reacting quickly upon seeing Somadatta stunned and unconscious.