Shloka 60
द्रोणपर्व (अध्याय ११२) — कर्णभीमयोर्युद्धम्, दुर्योधनस्य रक्षणादेशः
Droṇa-parva 112: Karṇa–Bhīma Engagement and Duryodhana’s Protective Order
गदो वा सारणो वापि साम्बो वा सह वृष्णिभि: | सहायार्थ महाराज संग्रामोत्तममूर्थनि,'राजेन्द्र! महाराज! यदि युद्धके श्रेष्ठ मुहानेपर हमारी सहायताके लिये भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण, बलराम, अनिरुद्ध, महारथी प्रद्युम्न, गद, सारण अथवा वृष्णिवंशियोंसहित साम्ब कवच धारण करके तैयार होंगे, तो भी मैं पुरुषसिंह सत्यपराक्रमी शिनिपौत्र सात्यकिको अवश्य ही अपनी सहायताके कार्यमें नियुक्त करूँगा; क्योंकि मेरी दृष्टिमें दूसरा कोई सात्यकिके समान नहीं है”
gado vā sāraṇo vāpi sāmbo vā saha vṛṣṇibhiḥ | sahāyārtha mahārāja saṅgrāmottamamūrdhani ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O great king, even if Gada or Sāraṇa, or Sāmba together with the Vṛṣṇis, were to don their armor and stand ready to aid us at the very forefront of this supreme battle, still I would certainly appoint the lion among men—Sātyaki, the true and proven hero, grandson of Śini—to the task of my support; for in my judgment there is none equal to Sātyaki.”
युधिष्ठिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Yudhiṣṭhira highlights discernment in leadership: even among many powerful allies, one should entrust critical support to the most reliable and proven protector. The verse praises steadfast valor and dependability as ethical grounds for appointment in a righteous cause.
In the Drona Parva’s battle context, Yudhiṣṭhira speaks about arranging protection and assistance on the battlefield. He states that even if prominent Yādava/Vṛṣṇi heroes come forward to help at the front lines, he will still specifically assign Sātyaki—renowned for courage and fidelity—as his principal support.