Shloka 27
Adhyāya 143: Nocturnal duels—Nākuli and Citraseṇa; Vṛṣasena’s assault; Duḥśāsana vs Prativindhya
न हि जानामि वृत्तान्तं धर्मराजस्य केशव । सात्वतेन विहीन: स यदि जीवति वा न वा,“केशव! पता नहीं, धर्मराजका क्या हाल है? सात्यकिसे रहित होकर वे जीवित हैं या नहीं?
na hi jānāmi vṛttāntaṃ dharmarājasya keśava | sātvatena vihīnaḥ sa yadi jīvati vā na vā ||
Sañjaya said: “Keśava, I do not know what has become of Dharmarāja. Deprived of Sātvata (Sātyaki), is he still alive—or not?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of leadership in war: even Dharmarāja’s survival is tied to the presence of trusted protectors. It underscores how dharmic governance depends not only on personal virtue but also on reliable allies and the fragile contingencies of battle.
In the turmoil of the Droṇa Parva, Sañjaya reports uncertainty about Yudhiṣṭhira’s condition. Addressing Kṛṣṇa as Keśava, he wonders whether Dharmarāja is alive, especially since he is separated from Sātyaki, a key warrior and protector.