Shloka 23
Devanagari script
सात्यकिं तु महाराज प्रहसन्निव भारत
Transliteration
sātyakiṁ tu mahārāja prahasann iva bhārata
Translation
Sañjaya said: “But Sātyaki, O great king, appeared as though smiling—O descendant of Bharata.”
Word by Word
सात्यकिम्Sātyaki (as object)
सात्यकिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसात्यकि
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
महाराजO great king
महाराज:
TypeNoun
Rootमहाराज
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
प्रहसन्laughing/smiling
प्रहसन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-हस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular, Present active participle (शतृ)
इवas if/like
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
भारतO Bhārata (descendant of Bharata)
भारत:
TypeNoun
Rootभारत
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
स
सात्यकि (Sātyaki/Yuyudhāna)म
महाराज (Dhṛtarāṣṭra, implied addressee)भ
भारत (Bhārata lineage, epithet for the king)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Cross References
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a warrior’s inner steadiness: even amid violence and peril, Sātyaki’s calm, almost smiling demeanor suggests fearlessness, confidence, and disciplined resolve—qualities valued in the kṣatriya ideal when duty must be carried out.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Sātyaki is seen “as if smiling,” marking his mood and bearing at this moment in the Drona Parva battle narrative, often to contrast him with others’ agitation or to foreshadow bold action.