Shloka 19
द्रोणेन सात्यकिपीडनम् — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Charge to Sātyaki amid Droṇa’s Onslaught
नारदस्त्वां समाचख्यौ पुराणमृषिसत्तमम् | वरदं शार््रिणं श्रेष्ठ तत् सत्यं कुरू माधव,“माधव! देवर्षि नारदने बताया है कि आप शार्कह््धनुष धारण करनेवाले, सर्वोत्तम वरदायक, पुरातन ऋषिश्रेष्ठ नारायण हैं, उनकी वह बात सत्य कर दिखाइये
nāradas tvāṃ samācakhyau purāṇam ṛṣisattamam | varadaṃ śārṅgiṇaṃ śreṣṭha tat satyaṃ kuru mādhava ||
Sañjaya dit : «Ô Mādhava, le sage céleste Nārada t’a proclamé Nārāyaṇa, l’Ancien, le plus éminent des ṛṣi : le Suprême, dispensateur de grâces, porteur de l’arc Śārṅga. Ô Mādhava, rends vraie sa parole.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses satya (truth) as an ethical imperative: a divine proclamation about Kṛṣṇa’s supreme nature should be validated through action. It frames righteousness in war as grounded in truth and divine responsibility—Kṛṣṇa is urged to manifest the protection and beneficence associated with Nārāyaṇa.
Sañjaya reports an appeal directed to Kṛṣṇa (Mādhava). Citing Devarṣi Nārada’s testimony that Kṛṣṇa is the ancient, supreme Nārāyaṇa and the Śārṅga-bearing boon-giver, the speaker urges Kṛṣṇa to demonstrate that claim by intervening effectively in the unfolding crisis of the battle.