Shloka 6

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 94: Sātyaki–Sudarśana Yuddha (सात्यकि–सुदर्शन युद्ध)

Devanagari script

सत्यां चिकीर्षमाणस्तु प्रतिज्ञां सत्यसंगर: । अभ्यद्रवद्‌ रथश्रेष्ठ शोणाश्र श्वेतवाहन:,सत्यप्रतिज्ञ श्वेतवाहन अर्जुनने अपनी प्रतिज्ञा सच्ची करनेकी इच्छासे लाल घोड़ोंवाले रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ द्रोणाचार्यपर धावा किया

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

satyāṃ cikīrṣamāṇas tu pratijñāṃ satyasaṅgaraḥ |

abhyadravad rathaśreṣṭhaḥ śoṇāśvaśvetavāhanaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Intent on making his vow come true, Arjuna—steadfast in truth and firm in battle—charged forward. That foremost of chariot-warriors, riding a chariot drawn by white steeds with a reddish hue, rushed straight at Droṇācārya.

Word by Word

सत्याम्truth (as object: the vow/pledge to be made true)

चिकीर्षमाणःwishing to do / intending to accomplish

तुbut/indeed

प्रतिज्ञाम्vow, pledge

सत्यसंगरःone whose battle is true / true in battle (epithet)

अभ्यद्रवत्rushed at / charged

रथश्रेष्ठःthe best of chariot-warriors / foremost charioteer

शोणाश्रःhaving red horses (lit. red-horsed)

श्वेतवाहनःhaving a white chariot/vehicle (white-bannered/white-mounted)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Arjuna

Droṇācārya

chariot (ratha)

horses (aśva)

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

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights satya (truthfulness) as an ethical anchor: a warrior’s power is portrayed as legitimate when guided by fidelity to a solemn vow, showing that resolve and moral accountability are central even in warfare.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Arjuna, determined to fulfill his pledge, swiftly charges in his chariot toward Droṇācārya, initiating a direct and forceful engagement.