Mahabharata 9.21.10 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 10

Adhyāya 21 — Duryodhanasya bāṇavarṣaḥ

Duryodhana’s Arrow-Storm and the Dust-Obscured Engagements

Devanagari script

सात्वतौ च महावीर्यो धन्विनौ रथिनां वरौ । अन्योन्यमभ्यधावेतां शस्त्रप्रवरधारिणी

Transliteration

sātvatāu ca mahāvīryo dhanvinau rathināṁ varau | anyonyam abhyadhāvetāṁ śastrapravaradhāriṇī ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：两位萨特瓦塔英雄——皆具大威力，皆为车战之最、弓术之宗——彼此冲锋相向，各自执持上等兵刃。此景凸显战场冷峻的达摩：勇武与技艺在正面交锋中尽显无遗，纵使其结局可能是两败俱伤、同归于尽。

Word by Word

• सात्वतौ: the two Sātvatas (Krishna and Sātyaki / men of the Sātvata line)
• सात्वतौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सात्वत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• महावीर्यौ: two of great valor
• महावीर्यौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावीर्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• धन्विनौ: two bowmen
• धन्विनौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• रथिनाम्: of chariot-warriors
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वरौ: the two best
• वरौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• अन्योन्यम्: each other / mutually
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य

• अभ्यधावेताम्: they two ran towards / charged at
• Type: Verb
• Root: धाव्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Dual, Parasmaipada

• शस्त्रप्रवरधारिणौ: two bearing excellent weapons
• शस्त्रप्रवरधारिणौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शस्त्र-प्रवर-धारिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• two Sātvata warriors (unspecified in this pāda)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its stark form: on the battlefield, warriors are bound to meet courage with courage. Ethical tension remains—heroic excellence is admired, yet it unfolds within the tragic necessity of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes two mighty Sātvata bowmen, eminent chariot-warriors, rushing at each other in direct combat, each equipped with superior weapons—setting the stage for a fierce duel.