Shloka 56
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
तमापततन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य शैनेयस्य रथं प्रति
tam āpatatantaṃ samprekṣya śaineyasya rathaṃ prati
तमापततन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य शैनेयस्य रथं प्रति । संजय उवाच—यथा स रणमध्ये शैनेयस्य रथमेवाभिमुखोऽपतत्, तथा तस्मिन्क्षणे संग्रामस्य केन्द्रं तत्रैव संनिपतितम्; संकल्पः शौर्यं च, विशिष्टवीरं प्रति लक्ष्यनिर्णयधर्मश्च, रणतापे सममेव संमूर्च्छित इवाभवत् ।
सयजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The line highlights how, in war, decisive intent and focused action drive events, while implicitly raising the ethical weight of choosing a specific target—an aspect of kṣatriya-dharma where courage and responsibility are tested together.
Sañjaya reports that someone is charging toward Śaineya’s (Sātyaki’s) chariot; the verse functions as a transition into a direct confrontation centered on that chariot.