Shloka 22
उत्तरो भयविषण्णः — बृहन्नडेन धैर्योपदेशः
Uttara’s Panic and Bṛhannadā’s Stabilizing Counsel
यदि वै सारथि: स स्यात् कुरून् सर्वान् न संशय: । जित्वा गाश्न समादाय ध्रुवमागमनं भवेत्,यदि वह सारथि हो जाय, तो निःसंदेह सम्पूर्ण कौरवोंको जीतकर और गौओंको भी वापस लेकर तुम्हारा इस नगरमें आगमन हो सकता है, यह ध्रुव सत्य है
yadi vai sārathiḥ sa syāt kurūn sarvān na saṁśayaḥ | jitvā gāś ca samādāya dhruvam āgamanaṁ bhavet ||
Uttara sagte: „Wenn er wirklich der Wagenlenker wäre, so könnte er ohne Zweifel alle Kurus besiegen; und nachdem er sie bezwungen und das Vieh zurückgebracht hätte, wäre eure Rückkehr in diese Stadt gewiss gesichert.“
उत्तर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the decisive importance of capable guidance in crisis: with a truly competent charioteer (battle-guide), victory and the protection/recovery of communal wealth (the cattle) become certain. It also reflects the kṣatriya ideal of courage and responsibility for safeguarding the kingdom’s resources.
In the cattle-raid episode of Virāṭa Parva, Uttara speaks about the prospect of facing the Kurus. He asserts that if the person serving as charioteer is genuinely up to the task, then defeating the Kuru forces and bringing back the stolen cattle—and thus returning safely to the city—would be assured.