Shloka 27
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ६६: तुमुलसंग्रामवर्णनम्
The Tumult of Battle Described
तस्मिन् क्षणे सात्यकि: सत्यसंध: शिनिप्रवीरो5भ्यपतत् पितामहम् । निष्नन्नमित्रान् धनुषा दृढेन संकम्पयंस्तव पुत्रस्य सैन्यम्
tasmin kṣaṇe sātyakiḥ satyasaṃdhaḥ śinipravīro 'bhyapatat pitāmaham | niṣnann amitrān dhanuṣā dṛḍhena saṃkampayaṃs tava putrasya sainyam ||
Sa sandaling iyon, si Sātyaki—tapat sa kanyang panata, ang pangunahing bayani ng angkan ng Śini—ay dumaluhong nang tuwiran sa Matandang Ama, si Bhīṣma. Sa kanyang matibay na busog, pinabagsak niya ang mga kaaway, at sa tindi ng kanyang paglusob ay pinayanig ang hukbo ng iyong anak—ipinakikitang sa init ng digmaan, ang di-matitinag na loob at dangal ng lahi ang nagtutulak sa mandirigma na hamunin maging ang pinakaginagalang na nakatatanda sa larangan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its battlefield form: unwavering commitment to one’s vow and duty can compel a warrior to confront even a revered elder like Bhīṣma. It also underscores the ethical tension of war—reverence does not remove the obligation to fight when one has taken a side in a righteous conflict.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Sātyaki, a leading Śini warrior allied with the Pāṇḍavas, suddenly charges Bhīṣma. As he advances, he slays enemy fighters with his strong bow and shakes the Kaurava army (Duryodhana’s forces) by the force of his attack.