Shloka 26
किमन्यत्क्रोधलोभाशभ्यां युद्धमेवाद्य सात्वत । त॑ तथावादिन तत्र सात्यकि: प्रत्यभाषत
kim anyat krodha-lobhāśabhyāṁ yuddham eva adya sātvatāḥ | taṁ tathā-vādinaṁ tatra sātyakiḥ pratyabhāṣata ||
Sañjaya said: “What else can there be—driven by anger and greed—except battle today, O Sātvata?” Thus, in that place, Sātyaki replied to the one who spoke in this manner. The verse frames the day’s conflict as arising from moral failings (wrath and avarice), and shows Sātyaki answering a provocation or grim assessment with readiness to act within the harsh logic of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights anger (krodha) and greed (lobha) as ethical roots that propel destructive conflict, implying that when such passions dominate, war becomes the inevitable outcome.
Sañjaya narrates that someone characterizes the day’s situation as inevitably leading to battle due to anger and greed; in response to that statement, Sātyaki answers back, signaling engagement in the unfolding confrontation.