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:
sātyakir mādhavaḥ śūro rathayūthapayūthapaḥ | eṣa vṛṣṇipravīrāṇām amarṣī jitasādhvasaḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Sātyaki, le héros Mādhava, est un vaillant guerrier — un commandant même parmi les commandants des escadrons de chars. Parmi les plus grands champions des Vṛṣṇis, il est farouchement inflexible et a vaincu la peur.»
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.