Vaiśampāyana said unto King Janamejaya: When the valiant Sātyaki was dispatched by Yudhiṣṭhira to follow the path of Arjuna, the blind monarch Dhṛtarāṣṭra, hearing thereof, spoke anxiously unto Sanjaya: “When Sātyaki hastened to the aid of Arjuna, how was he suffered to pass? Did not our foremost warriors oppose him with all their might?”
After sending Sātyaki upon that perilous errand, Yudhiṣṭhira, his heart torn by anxiety for Arjuna, turned his attention toward the quarter where Droṇa raged like a consuming fire and advanced against him with resolute courage. At that time, when Dhṛṣṭadyumna raised his leonine shout, the Pāṇḍava warriors closed in upon the Kaurava host, and the latter, undismayed, met them with equal fury.
Meanwhile Sātyaki, irresistible as a tempest, cut down heads, arms, and trunks in every direction, casting the Kaurava ranks into confusion like the ocean lashed by storm winds. The scattered forces were rallied by seven illustrious princes, but those warriors, though proud and valorous, were soon sent by Sātyaki to the abode of Yama.
Droṇa then confronted the Yādava hero and pierced him with seven arrows, which Sātyaki answered with seven of his own. The preceptor next discharged six shafts in swift succession, striking both Sātyaki and his steeds. Inflamed with wrath, Sātyaki retaliated with volleys of ten, seven, six, eight, and eighteen arrows, grievously afflicting his revered teacher. Droṇa, enraged, enveloped Sātyaki’s chariot in a dense shower of shafts and cried aloud, “By my prowess thy master Arjuna hath already been driven away. Soon thou too shalt flee in terror.”
Sātyaki, smiling amidst the storm of arrows, replied, “I go to Arjuna in obedience to the command of Dharmarāja. Why dost thou delay me with vain words? Time is precious, O revered Ācārya. Show mercy, for compassion becometh the aged and wise.”
Turning to his charioteer, Sātyaki said, “Though we strive to evade him, Droṇa, blinded by pride and partiality, will not permit our passage. If we linger here, our mission shall fail. Therefore drive swiftly through the armies of the Bāhlikas, the Aṅgas, and the southern kings. Whosoever seeks to bar our path must be struck down without hesitation.”
Thus resolved, the lion of the Yādavas plunged into the hostile ranks, scattering them like a maddened elephant trampling reeds. Then Kṛtavarmā, mighty among the Bhojas, advanced to oppose him. With six arrows he wounded Sātyaki, and with four shafts he slew his horses. Droṇa, seeing Kṛtavarmā’s resistance, was well pleased and turned once more toward Yudhiṣṭhira, though his vigilant mind remained attentive to events unfolding elsewhere on the field.
Burning with indignation, Sātyaki struck Kṛtavarmā with sixteen arrows. Kṛtavarmā answered with innumerable shafts, but Sātyaki shattered his bow and pierced him with ten keen arrows. Kṛtavarmā then hurled a mighty spear that struck Sātyaki upon the shoulder. Undaunted, the Yādava hero seized the reins himself and continued the combat. Though Kṛtavarmā was a warrior of formidable strength, Sātyaki, intent upon his mission, eluded him and pressed onward toward the region where Bhīma fought.
Hearing of Sātyaki’s irresistible progress, Dhṛtarāṣṭra exclaimed in amazement, “If both Droṇa and Kṛtavarmā, heroes of incomparable prowess, were unable to restrain him, then Arjuna, who pierced our army despite them, must indeed be unconquerable. Surely Duryodhana was sorely afflicted to witness such havoc. The heaps of slain horses and elephants wrought by Sātyaki must have deepened his anguish.”
Sanjaya replied, “O King, this calamity is the fruit of thy own arrogance and want of humility. What avail thy lamentation now, like one who wrings his hands after his dwelling hath already been consumed by fire? Listen with steadfast mind while I recount the further course of this terrible battle.”
As Sātyaki cut his way through the Kāmboja divisions, many renowned warriors sought to stop him. Droṇa arranged another charioteer for Kṛtavarmā and hastened after the Yādava chief. On the Pāṇḍava side, kings strove to check Droṇa’s advance, but Kṛtavarmā confronted them and smote them with burning arrows.
Then Bhīma struck him with three arrows; Dhṛṣṭadyumna with four; Yudhiṣṭhira and Drupada with five each; Ghaṭotkaca with ten; Virāṭa with fifteen; Nakula and Sahadeva with many more; Śikhaṇḍī with twenty; and the sons of Draupadī with numerous shafts. Thus surrounded on every side, Kṛtavarmā nevertheless stood firm as a mountain amidst raging winds.
With consummate skill he pierced all those heroes, broke Bhīma’s bow and standard, and covered his chest with arrows so fierce that Bhīma swooned upon his chariot. The Pāṇḍava army, enraged at this sight, rushed upon the Bhoja prince. Recovering his senses, Bhīma hurled a terrible spear, which Kṛtavarmā cut in twain before it reached him. Thereafter Bhīma and his companions again showered him with arrows until his body streamed with blood.
Śikhaṇḍī advanced and was disarmed when Kṛtavarmā severed his bow. Taking up a sword, Śikhaṇḍī cut Kṛtavarmā’s bow in return. Seizing another bow, Kṛtavarmā overwhelmed Śikhaṇḍī with such a torrent of shafts that he fell senseless upon his chariot, and his frightened charioteer bore him from the field
Having repulsed the Kekayas, the Cedis, and many other warriors, Kṛtavarmā roared triumphantly and struck terror into the Pāṇḍava ranks. Hearing the cries of his hard-pressed allies, Sātyaki reflected, “Arjuna may be reached later; at this moment the safety of Dharmarāja demandeth my immediate attention.”
Though Droṇa again sought to intercept him, Sātyaki slipped past the preceptor and fell upon Kṛtavarmā with irresistible force. He shattered the Bhoja’s bow with a spear, slew his horses with four arrows, and with a single shaft cut off the head of his charioteer, thus humbling his pride.
Then the king of the Trigartas advanced to stop the Yādava hero, but Sātyaki, swift as thought, hurled a spear that severed his head, which rolled upon the blood-soaked earth.
Thus did Sanjaya recount to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the splendid and terrible exploits of Sātyaki, who, like a blazing comet coursing through the heavens, scattered the Kaurava host and upheld the honour of the Pāṇḍavas.
