Shloka 4
अध्याय १६९ — भीष्मस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रशंसा तथा शिखण्डिविषये नियमः
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava Forces and His Constraint Regarding Śikhaṇḍin
सात्यकिर्माधव: शूरो रथयूथपयूथप: । एष वृष्णिप्रवीराणाममर्षी जितसाध्वस:,मधुवंशी शूरवीर सात्यकि भी रथ-यूथपतियोंके भी यूथपति हैं। वृष्णिवंशके प्रमुख वीरोंमें ये सात्यकि बड़े ही अमर्षशील हैं। इन्होंने भयको जीत लिया है
sātyakir mādhavaḥ śūro rathayūthapayūthapaḥ | eṣa vṛṣṇipravīrāṇām amarṣī jitasādhvasaḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: “Sātyaki, the Mādhava hero, is a valiant warrior—a commander even among the commanders of chariot-squadrons. Among the foremost champions of the Vṛṣṇis, he is fiercely unyielding in spirit and has conquered fear.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises ideal kṣatriya qualities: disciplined command, steadfast courage, and fearlessness. It also highlights controlled indignation (amarṣa) as a warrior’s refusal to tolerate dishonor, reinforcing the ethic of protecting one’s duty and allies without succumbing to panic.
In Udyoga Parva, Bhīṣma is describing and assessing notable warriors. Here he singles out Sātyaki as a top-tier Vṛṣṇi champion and an exceptional battlefield leader—one who commands commanders and remains undaunted by fear.