सरथं कृतवर्माणं समन्तात् पर्यवाकिरत् ॥
छादयित्वा रणे ऽत्यर्थं हार्दिक्यं तु स सात्यकिः ॥
अथास्य भल्लेन शिरः सारथेः समकृन्तत ॥
स पपात हतः सूतो हार्दिक्यस्य महारथात् ॥
ततस् ते यन्तरि हते प्राद्रवंस् तुरगा भृशम् ॥
अथ भोजस् त्व् असंभ्रान्तो निगृह्य तुरगान् स्वयम् ॥
तस्थौ शरधनुष्पाणिस् तत् सैन्यान्य् अभ्यपूजयन् ॥
sarathaṃ kṛtavarmāṇaṃ samantāt paryavākirat ||
chādayitvā raṇe 'tyarthaṃ hārdikyaṃ tu sa sātyakiḥ ||
athāsya bhallena śiraḥ sāratheḥ samakṛntata ||
sa papāta hataḥ sūto hārdikyasya mahārathāt ||
tatas te yantari hate prādravaṃs turagā bhṛśam ||
atha bhojas tv asaṃbhrānto nigṛhya turagān svayam ||
tasthau śaradhanuṣpāṇis tat sainyāny abhyapūjayan ||
That Satyaki showered Kritavarman together with his chariot from every side, thickly enveloping the son of Hridika in battle. Then with a broad-headed arrow he severed the head of his charioteer; struck down, the charioteer fell from the chariot of the mahārathin, the son of Hridika. Then Bhoja, undismayed, himself restraining the horses, stood with arrow and bow in hand, encouraging those hosts.
b5f8f5fe381d · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:02:23 PM UTC
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Deprived of his charioteer, Kritavarman "asaṃbhrāntaḥ," undismayed, calmly takes the reins himself and encourages his wavering troops. It is telling that his valor lies both in self-command and in care for his companions' spirit. The verse teaches that a true leader in misfortune does not lose himself or fall in spirit: taking on even the charioteer's labor, he encourages the faltering, for a commander's steadfastness is the whole army's support — where he stands unshaken, others too will not waver.