Shloka 12
Sātyaki’s Call for Intervention and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Vow-Bound Restraint (सात्यकिवाक्यं—धर्मराजस्य धैर्यनिश्चयः)
जानामि वीर्य च जयात्मजस्य कार्ष्णिर्भवत्येष यथा रणस्थ: । साम्ब: ससूतं सरथं भुजाभ्यां दुःशासन शास्तु बलात् प्रमथ्य,मैं अर्जुनकुमार अभिमन्युके भी पराक्रमको जानता हूँ। वह समरभूमिमें खड़ा होनेपर साक्षात् श्रीकृष्णनन्दन प्रद्युम्मके ही समान जान पड़ता है। वीरवर साम्ब बलपूर्वक शत्रुसेनको मथकर अपनी दोनों भुजाओंसे रथ और सारथिसहित दुःशासनका दमन करें
jānāmi vīryaṃ ca jayātmajasya kārṣṇir bhavaty eṣa yathā raṇasthaḥ | sāmbaḥ sasūtaṃ sarathaṃ bhujābhyāṃ duḥśāsanaṃ śāstu balāt pramathya ||
Dijo Baladeva: «Conozco el valor del hijo de Jayā. Cuando se yergue en el campo de batalla, parece un verdadero descendiente de Kṛṣṇa. Que el héroe Sāmba, por pura fuerza, aplaste al ejército enemigo y someta a Duḥśāsana, apresándolo con su auriga y su carro entre sus dos brazos.»
बलदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of recognizing proven valor and enforcing restraint through decisive action in war: a warrior who threatens order is to be subdued, and true heroism is measured by steadfastness on the battlefield and the capacity to protect one’s side through strength and discipline.
Baladeva praises the battlefield prowess of Jayā’s son (Abhimanyu), comparing his presence in combat to a Kṛṣṇa-like descendant, and urges that Sāmba should forcibly overpower Duḥśāsana—so completely that he can seize him along with his chariot and charioteer—symbolizing total domination in battle.