Shloka 1
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 114 — Karṇa–Bhīmasena Missile Exchange, Disarmament, and Arjuna’s Intervention
ऑपन--माजल बछ। अ<-छऋा दादशाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: सात्यकिकी अर्जुनके पास जानेकी तैयारी और सम्मानपूर्वक विदा होकर उनका प्रस्थान तथा साथ आते हुए भीमको कक रक्षाके लिये लौटा ना संजय उवाच धर्मराजस्य तद् वाक््यं निशम्य शिनिपुड्भव: । स पार्थाद् भयमाशंसन् _परित्यागान्महीपते:,संजय कहते हैं--राजन! धर्मराजका वह कथन सुनकर शिनिप्रवर सात्यकिके मनमें राजाको छोड़कर जानेसे अर्जुनके अप्रसन्न होनेकी आशंका उत्पन्न हुई। विशेषतः उन्हें अपने लिये लोकापवादका भय दिखायी देने लगा। वे सोचने लगे--मुझे अर्जुनकी ओर आते देख सब लोग यही कहेंगे कि यह डरकर भाग आया है
sañjaya uvāca | dharmarājasya tad vākyaṃ niśamya śinipuṅgavaḥ | sa pārthād bhayam āśaṃsan parityāgān mahīpateḥ ||
Sanjaya said: O King, hearing that statement of Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira), Satyaki—the foremost of the Shinis—became anxious. He feared that Arjuna (Partha) might be displeased if he left the king’s side; and, above all, he foresaw the danger of public reproach. He thought, “If people see me going toward Arjuna, they will say that I fled out of fear.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical tension central to the epic: duty and loyalty must be weighed against the fear of blame and loss of reputation. Satyaki’s concern shows how public opinion (lokāpavāda) can pressure warriors, even when their intentions are aligned with service and dharma.
After hearing Yudhishthira’s words, Satyaki considers leaving the king to go toward Arjuna. He worries that Arjuna may resent his departure and that others will interpret his movement as cowardly flight, creating scandal and dishonor.