Shloka 86
अलंबलवधः (Alaṃbala-vadhaḥ) / The Slaying of Alaṃbala and the Advance toward Karṇa
तं॑ समारुहय शैनेयस्तव सैन्यमुपाद्रवत् । दारुको5पि यथाकामं प्रययौ केशवान्तिकम्,सात्यकिने उसीपर आरूढ़ होकर आपकी सेनापर आक्रमण किया। दारुक भी इच्छानुसार भगवान् श्रीकृष्णके निकट चला गया
taṁ samāruhya śaineyas tava sainyam upādravat | dāruko 'pi yathākāmaṁ prayayau keśavāntikam ||
Sañjaya said: Mounting that chariot, Śaineya (Sātyaki) charged against your army. Dāruka too, as he wished, went to Keśava (Kṛṣṇa). Thus, under the moral pressure of battle, the warrior hastens to the duty he has chosen on the field, while the charioteer goes to the rightful commander—each fulfilling role and allegiance.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights role-based dharma in crisis: the warrior acts decisively against the enemy host, while the charioteer aligns himself with the rightful leader. Ethical order is maintained when each person performs their appointed function with clarity and loyalty.
Sātyaki (Śaineya) mounts his conveyance and launches an assault on the Kaurava forces. Simultaneously, Dāruka proceeds to Kṛṣṇa (Keśava), indicating a tactical or supportive movement toward Kṛṣṇa’s position.