On another front, Drona found himself engaged in fierce fighting with Dhrishtadyumna, who was determined to keep the Acharya away from Arjuna. His sole aim was to let Arjuna complete his mission of slaying Jayadratha. He was horrified when he visualized the alternative: Arjuna immolating himself after sunset.
Dhristadyumna’s dove-coloured horses pressed forward towards Drona’s chariot. It seemed as if the horses on both sides were also assisting their masters in this duel. In the midst of the combat, Dhrishtadyumna suddenly jumped off his chariot and, brandishing his sword, swooped upon Drona. Enraged, the Acharya snatched the sword out of his hands, and would have instantly severed Dhrishtadyumna’s head but for the timely intervention of Satyaki. Satyaki said to Drona, ‘O Brahmin, haven’t you forsaken your true profession? You should have spent your life in some forest, engaged in prayers and austerities. But here you are, fighting for injustice and evil – out to kill your own pupils, Arjuna, Bheema and Yudhishthira. You will surely end up in hell, for that is where you belong.’
Hurling these taunts, Satyaki then ordered his charioteer to get him as close to Drona as possible. In the fight that ensued, arrows flew in the air, buzzing like stinging bees. As both chariots now swung around each other, they raised such a cloud of dust that the day darkened, as if the sun had set.
The duel continued unabated with such fury that both combatants began to bleed profusely. When one of Satyaki’s arrows snapped Drona’s bow, he picked up another to defend himself. As Drona lost countless bows in this combat, he felt impelled to inwardly compliment his adversary as a gifted archer. ‘Honour where honour is due,’ he said to himself.
Satyaki now began to show signs of exhaustion after engaging the Acharya very long in battle. Seeing him almost spent out, Yudhishthira ordered some Pandava warriors to help him.
‘There’s that Brahmin playing with Satyaki like a lion holding in its paws a helpless deer?’ Then, turning to Dhrishtadyumna, Yudhishthira said, ‘Go to his rescue before another young warrior of my army is nipped in the bloom of his youth.’
Just as Satyaki was being carried away to safety, the Pandava army heard the sound of Krishna’s Panchajanya. ‘Thank God, Vasudeva is safe inside the vyuha,’ said Yudhishthira gleefully. ‘But we haven’t yet heard Gandiva’s twang. Maybe Arjuna is being harassed by his enemies.’ He paused, gripped by fear and anxiety. ‘Or maybe,’ he said, now looking downcast, ‘Arjuna has been slain and Krishna has blown his conch signalling his decision to jump into the battle himself. Oh God!’
Haunted by dark thoughts, he turned to Satyaki: ‘You are now my only anchor in life. I recall Arjuna often glorifying you as one of the star fighters in our army. So, would you go to the aid of my brother?’ Then, looking at the horizon, he said, ‘There, the afternoon glow is already deepening into grey. Oh, my horrible imaginings!’
So anguished was Yudhishthira’s voice that Satyaki felt deeply touched. Even though he was fatigued, bruised and battered, he offered to carry out his behest.
‘But,’ he said, ‘I must also remind you of the promise I have given Arjuna, not to leave you unprotected under any circumstances. He knows that as soon as you are left unguarded, that crooked Brahmin would seize you. So I am caught in this terrible dilemma – to obey you or Arjuna.’
Yudhishthira instantly countered, saying, ‘If Arjuna has urged you to stay with me, isn’t it all the more reason why I should also ensure his own safety? I hold him dearer than my own life. So go you must. As regards my safety, I’d be well taken care of by Bheema and Dhrishtadyumna.’
So, most reluctantly, Satyaki ordered his charioteer to drive him towards the chakravyuha. On the way, he encountered fierce resistance, but his bow helped him press his way through the enemy ranks. As soon as Drona saw Satyaki driving away from Yudhishthira, he decided to capture him.