Shloka 13
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
तथा तस्मिन् बले शूरैर्वध्यमाने हतेडपि च | अस्मानभ्याययु: पार्था वृकोदरपुरोगमा:
sañjaya uvāca |
tathā tasmin bale śūraiḥ vadhyamāne hate 'pi ca |
asmān abhyāyayuḥ pārthā vṛkodara-purogamāḥ ||
śara-sambhinna-varmāṇau tāv ubhau bhrātarau raṇe |
sātyakiṃ satya-karmāṇaṃ rājan vivyadhatuḥ śaraiḥ ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: Kahit ang hukbong iyon ay pinupulbos na ng mga bayani at nakahandusay na sa kamatayan, sumalakay pa rin sa amin ang mga anak ni Pṛthā, na si Bhīma (Vṛkodara) ang nasa unahan. Bagama’t wasak na sa mga palaso ang baluting suot ng dalawang magkapatid, sa gitna ng labanan ay tinamaan pa rin nila si Sātyaki—kilala sa tapat na pagtupad sa panata—na binutas ng kanilang mga palaso, O Hari.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim ethic of battlefield duty: even when forces are collapsing and warriors are wounded, combatants continue out of allegiance and kṣatriya obligation. It also contrasts physical vulnerability (shattered armor) with steadfast resolve (continuing to fight).
As the army is being slaughtered, the Pāṇḍavas surge forward with Bhīma leading. Two brothers—despite their armor being broken by arrows—manage to pierce and wound Sātyaki with their shafts, as Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra.