Shloka 21
धृष्टद्युम्नस्य द्रोणाभिमुख्यं तथा सात्यकि-कर्ण-समागमः
Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s advance toward Droṇa and the Sātyaki–Karṇa confrontation
अस्मदर्थ च युध्यन्तं त्यक्त्वा प्राणान् सुदुस्त्यजान् । मम बाहुं रणे राजन् दक्षिण युद्धदुर्मदम्,(निकृष्यमाणं तं दृष्टवा कथं शत्रुवशं गतम् । त्वया विकृष्यमाणं च दृष्टवानस्मि निष्क्रियम् ।।) सात्यकि मेरा शिष्य और सुखप्रद सम्बन्धी है। वह मेरे ही लिये अपने दुस्त्यज प्राणोंका मोह छोड़कर युद्ध कर रहा है। राजन! रणदुर्मद सात्यकि युद्धस्थलमें मेरी दाहिनी भुजाके समान है। उसे तुम्हारे द्वारा कष्ट पाते देख मैं कैसे उसकी उपेक्षा कर सकता था। मैंने देखा है तुम उसे घसीट रहे थे और वह शत्रुके अधीन होकर निश्चेष्ट हो गया था
asmadarthaṃ ca yudhyantaṃ tyaktvā prāṇān sudustyajān | mama bāhuṃ raṇe rājan dakṣiṇaṃ yuddhadurmadam || (nikṛṣyamāṇaṃ taṃ dṛṣṭvā kathaṃ śatruvaśaṃ gatam | tvayā vikṛṣyamāṇaṃ ca dṛṣṭavānasmi niṣkriyam ||)
Arjuna said: “For my sake Sātyaki fights, casting aside attachment even to those life-breaths so hard to relinquish. O King, in the fury of battle he is like my own right arm on the field. When I saw him being dragged, fallen under the enemy’s power and rendered helpless as you pulled him, how could I possibly ignore his distress?”
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Arjuna frames ethical obligation in war as loyalty and protection toward those who risk their lives for one’s cause. A warrior-leader must not abandon a devoted ally; gratitude and responsibility become part of dharma on the battlefield.
Arjuna explains why he could not remain indifferent: Sātyaki, fighting for Arjuna’s sake, was seen being forcibly dragged and rendered helpless under enemy control. Arjuna calls Sātyaki his ‘right arm’ in battle, emphasizing his indispensability and the urgency to rescue him.