Mahabharata 7.115.21 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 115, Shloka 21
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — सात्यकि-अलम्बुसयोर्युद्धवर्णनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue; Account of Sātyaki vs Alambusa
ततस्तेनैव मार्गेण येन यातो धनंजय: । इयेष सात्यकिर्गन्तुं ततो द्रोणेन वारित:,तदनन्तर जिस मार्गसे अर्जुन गये, उसीसे सात्यकिने भी जानेका विचार किया; परंतु द्रोणाचार्यने उन्हें रोक दिया
tatas tenaiva mārgeṇa yena yāto dhanañjayaḥ | iyeṣa sātyakir gantuṃ tato droṇena vāritaḥ ||
Daraufhin wollte Sātyaki denselben Weg nehmen, den Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) gegangen war; doch in diesem Augenblick hielt Droṇa ihn auf. Der Vers zeigt, wie im Gedränge des Krieges selbst die gerechte Absicht, einem Verbündeten zu folgen und ihn zu stützen, durch die strategische Pflicht und die Macht des gegnerischen Befehlshabers begrenzt wird.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores a wartime ethical tension: loyalty and the impulse to aid one’s ally (Sātyaki following Arjuna) meet the opposing commander’s obligation to defend his side through strategic restraint (Droṇa preventing him). Dharma in battle often appears as competing duties enacted through action and counteraction.
Sañjaya reports that after Arjuna has gone along a particular route, Sātyaki decides to take the same path to follow him; however, Droṇa intervenes and blocks Sātyaki from proceeding.
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