कृतवर्मा शिनेः पुत्रं द्रोणप्रेप्सुं विशां पते ॥
पर्यवारयद् आयान्तं शूरं समितिशोभनम् ॥
तं शैनेयः शरव्रातैः क्रुद्धः क्रुद्धम् अवारयत् ॥
कृतवर्मा च शैनेयं मत्तो मत्तम् इव द्विपम् ॥
kṛtavarmā śineḥ putraṃ droṇaprepsuṃ viśāṃ pate ||
paryavārayad āyāntaṃ śūraṃ samitiśobhanam ||
taṃ śaineyaḥ śaravrātaiḥ kruddhaḥ kruddham avārayat ||
kṛtavarmā ca śaineyaṃ matto mattam iva dvipam ||
Kritavarman, o sovereign, barred the path of the approaching warrior, Shini's grandson, Satyaki, who was eager to reach Drona and resplendent in battle. Him, enraged, Shaineya in rage checked with clouds of arrows; and Kritavarman [checked] Shaineya, just as a frenzied elephant [checks] a frenzied elephant.
13147d8e7345 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:11:21 PM UTC
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The duel of Satyaki and Kritavarman is likened to the clash of two frenzied elephants -- equal in fury and strength. In this equality lies a particular beauty of honest combat: not the strong overwhelming the weak, but a meeting of equals, where the outcome is not foregone. It is telling that both are called "enraged": they are inflamed not only by duty but by mutual warrior passion. This teaches that the worthiest duel is between equals, where each meets his like; that in such a clash the valor of both sides shows itself in full; and that tradition delights in this balance of forces, seeing in the honest contest of equals not mere violence but a high art of war, in which both sides are worthy of praise.