Shloka 7
अर्जुनस्य गुरुधर्मविलापः तथा शैनेयकर्णयोर्युद्धारम्भः | Arjuna’s Lament on Guru-Dharma and the Opening of the Sātyaki–Karṇa Duel
उनके कंधे और चाल-ढाल वृषभके समान थे। नेत्र भी वृषभके ही तुल्य बड़े-बड़े थे। वे नरश्रेष्ठ सात्यकि आपके सैनिकोंके बीचमें उसी प्रकार सुशोभित होते थे, जैसे गौओंके झुंडमें साँड़की शोभा होती है ।। मत्तद्विरदसंकाशं मत्तद्विरदगामिनम् | प्रभिन्नमिव मातडूं यूथमध्ये व्यवस्थितम्
mattadvirada-saṅkāśaṃ mattadvirada-gāminam | prabhinnam iva mātaṅgaṃ yūtha-madhye vyavasthitam ||
నరశ్రేష్ఠుడైన సాత్యకి మీ సైన్యంలో మత్తగజంలా కన్పించెను—మత్త దంతివలె నడకతో—యథా ఒక ప్రబల గజం గుంపు మధ్య చొచ్చుకువచ్చి నిలిచినట్లు।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary courage and martial energy can dominate a battlefield; ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s tension between individual valor (a kṣatriya ideal) and the tragic setting of a war fought among relatives under the pressure of duty and prior commitments.
Sañjaya describes Sātyaki’s appearance and movement within the Kaurava ranks, comparing him to a powerful rutting elephant that has broken into the middle of a herd—an image meant to convey his intimidating presence and aggressive advance among enemy soldiers.