Shloka 24
भीमसेनस्य वेगाभिपातः—विशोकसारथिसंवादश्च
Bhīma’s surge and dialogue with charioteer Viśoka
सारथिं पातयामास शैनेयस्य रथाद् द्रुतम् धनुष कट जानेपर शक्तिशालियोंमें श्रेष्ठ अश्वत्थामाने शक्ति चलाकर शिनिपौत्र सात्यकिके सारथिको शीघ्र ही रथसे नीचे गिरा दिया |। २३ इ ।।
sārathiṁ pātayāmāsa śaineyasya rathād drutam | śaktīśāliṣu śreṣṭho 'śvatthāmā śaktiṁ calayitvā śinipautra-sātyakeḥ sārathiṁ śīghraṁ rathān nipātayāmāsa || athānyad dhanuḥ ādāya droṇaputraḥ pratāpavān ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: Si Aśvatthāmā, ang pinakadakila sa mga makapangyarihang may sandata, ay mabilis na naghagis ng sibat at ibinagsak ang tagapagmaneho ng karwahe ni Śaineya (Sātyaki) mula sa kanyang karwahe. Pagkaraan, ang magiting na anak ni Droṇa ay muling kumuha ng isa pang busog at lalo pang pinatindi ang paglusob.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war rapidly erodes moral boundaries: even those who enable combat (like charioteers) can become targets, showing the ethical pressure and escalation inherent in battlefield conflict.
Sañjaya reports that Ashvatthāmā hurls a spear and knocks down Sātyaki’s charioteer from the chariot, and then Ashvatthāmā takes up another bow to continue fighting.