ततः प्राग्ज्योतिषो राजा परिगृह्य द्विपर्षभम् ॥
प्रेषयाम् आस सहसा युयुधानरथं प्रति ॥
शिनेः पौत्रस्य तु रथं परिगृह्य महाद्विपः ॥
अभिचिक्षेप वेगेन युयुधानस् त्व् अपाक्रमत् ॥
बृहतः सैन्धवान् अश्वान् समुत्थाप्य तु सारथिः ॥
तस्थौ सात्यकिम् आसाद्य संप्लुतस् तं रथं पुनः ॥
tataḥ prāgjyotiṣo rājā parigṛhya dviparṣabham ||
preṣayām āsa sahasā yuyudhānarathaṃ prati ||
śineḥ pautrasya tu rathaṃ parigṛhya mahādvipaḥ ||
abhicikṣepa vegena yuyudhānas tv apākramat ||
bṛhataḥ saindhavān aśvān samutthāpya tu sārathiḥ ||
tasthau sātyakim āsādya saṃplutas taṃ rathaṃ punaḥ ||
Then the king of Pragjyotisha, directing his bull-elephant, swiftly drove it at the chariot of Yuyudhana [Satyaki]. The huge elephant, seizing the chariot of Shini's grandson, hurled it away with force; but Yuyudhana leapt clear. The charioteer, steadying the tall Sindhu horses, drove up and halted by Satyaki; and he leapt onto that chariot once more.
3989eeda0fe0 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:11:21 PM UTC
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The elephant seizes and hurls away an entire chariot -- a might against which the warrior's very footing is powerless; but Satyaki saves himself by quickness, leaping clear. His faithful charioteer at once steadies the horses and brings the chariot back -- and the hero is in the fight again. In this bond of warrior and charioteer lies an image of unbreakable comradeship. It is telling that what saves Satyaki is not strength but the speed and loyalty of his servant. The verse teaches that against overwhelming might, what saves is not stubbornness but quickness -- to step aside in time is not flight; that a faithful helper, who does not lose his head in danger, is worth more than much else, for he restores to the fallen the means to fight; and that a warrior's valor rests also on those beside him -- on the loyal charioteer, without whom even the bravest would be left disarmed.