Shloka 4
Udyoga Parva, Adhyaya 52: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava Strength and the Case for Restraint
इनके सिवा जो इच्छा करते ही इन्द्र आदि देवताओंसहित इन सम्पूर्ण लोकोंको अपने वशमें कर सकते हैं, वे जगत्स्ष्टा महाबली भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण भी पाण्डवोंको विजय दिलानेका दृढ़ निश्चय कर चुके हैं ।।
eteṣāṃ vinā ye icchāmātreṇa indra-prabhṛtibhir devaiḥ saha imān sarvān lokān vaśīkartuṃ śaknuvanti, te jagat-sraṣṭā mahābalī bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇo 'pi pāṇḍavānāṃ vijayaṃ dṛḍha-niścayaṃ kṛtavān. samastām arjunād vidyāṃ sātyakiḥ kṣipram āptavān; śaineyaḥ samare sthātā bījavad pravapac charān.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra berkata: “Selain mereka, ada pula yang dengan kehendak semata mampu menundukkan seluruh dunia beserta Indra dan para dewa. Dan bahkan Tuhan Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Mahaperkasa, pencipta dan penopang jagat, telah berketetapan teguh untuk mengantarkan kemenangan bagi Pāṇḍava. Lagi pula, Sātyaki, cucu Śini (Śaineya), dengan cepat mempelajari seluruh ilmu senjata dari Arjuna; dalam perang ini ia pun akan berdiri di pihak Pāṇḍava, menghujani panah seakan menabur benih.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores how decisive moral and strategic outcomes in the epic are shaped not only by human prowess but also by unwavering resolve and powerful alliances—especially the alignment of Kṛṣṇa’s will with the Pāṇḍavas. It also highlights the ethical weight of choosing sides: strength and skill (like Sātyaki’s mastery of astravidyā) become consequential when placed in service of a cause.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra reflects on the formidable support behind the Pāṇḍavas: Kṛṣṇa has firmly determined their victory, and Sātyaki—trained rapidly by Arjuna in the full range of weapon-lore—will fight for them, releasing arrows in overwhelming volleys.