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 berkata: “Sātyaki, pahlawan Mādhava, adalah kesatria gagah—seorang panglima bahkan di antara para panglima pasukan kereta. Di antara para jawara utama kaum Vṛṣṇi, ia berjiwa tak kenal tunduk dan telah menaklukkan rasa takut.”
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.