Shloka 22

Droṇa Interdicts Sātyaki; Sātyaki’s Breakthrough and Duel with Kṛtavarmā (द्रोण-निवारणम्, सात्यकि-प्रवेशः, कृतवर्म-युद्धम्)

Devanagari script

यावत्‌ तु शक्‍्यते कर्तुमन्तरजैर्जनाधिपै: । क्षत्रधर्मरतै: शूरैस्तावत्‌ कुर्वन्ति कौरवा:,अवसरको जाननेवाले, क्षत्रिय-धर्मपरायण, शूरवीर राजालोग जितना कर सकते हैं, कौरवपक्षी नरेश उतना पराक्रम करते हैं

Transliteration

yāvat tu śakyate kartum antarajair janādhipaiḥ | kṣatradharmarataiḥ śūrais tāvat kurvanti kauravāḥ ||

Translation

संजय बोले—अवसर को पहचानने वाले, एक ही वंश में जन्मे, क्षत्रिय-धर्म में रत शूरवीर राजे जितना कर सकते हैं, कौरव-पक्ष के नरेश उतना ही पराक्रम करते हैं।

Word by Word

यावत्as much as / so long as

तुbut / indeed

शक्यतेis possible / can be done

कर्तुम्to do

अन्तरजैःby the princes (sons/descendants)

जनाधिपैःby rulers of men (kings)

क्षत्रधर्मरतैःby those devoted to kshatriya-duty

शूरैःby heroes / brave men

तावत्that much / to that extent

कुर्वन्तिthey do / they perform

कौरवाःthe Kauravas

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

स

संजय (Sañjaya)

क

कौरवाः (Kauravas)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames battlefield action as bounded by capacity and guided by kṣatriya-dharma: a warrior-king is expected to strive fully within what is possible, showing courage and disciplined commitment to duty rather than half-measures.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava-side kings and heroes are pressing the fight as much as they can—acting vigorously and seizing opportunities—emphasizing their collective effort and adherence to the warrior code in the ongoing battle.