Shloka 8
द्रोण–सात्यकि द्वैरथम्
Droṇa and Sātyaki: The Chariot Duel
तुम्हारे दिये हुए अस्त्र-विद्याके उपदेश और पराक्रमसे सम्पन्न बालक अभिमन्युने उस सेनामें उसी प्रकार प्रवेश किया, जैसे गरुड़ समुद्रमें घुस जाते हैं ।। तेडनुयाता वयं वीरं सात्वतीपुत्रमाहवे । प्रवेष्टकामास्तेनैव येन स प्राविशच्चमूम्,तत्पश्चात् हमलोग रणक्षेत्रमें वीर सुभद्राकुमार अभिमन्युके पीछे उस व्यूहमें प्रवेश करनेकी इच्छासे चले। हम भी उसी मार्गसे उसमें घुसना चाहते थे, जिसके द्वारा उसने शत्रुसेनामें प्रवेश किया था
tad anuyātā vayaṁ vīraṁ sātvati-putram āhave | praveṣṭa-kāmās tenaiva yena sa prāviśac camūm ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Thereafter we followed that heroic son of the Sātvata line in the thick of battle, wishing to enter the formation by the very same route through which he had penetrated the enemy host. Our intent was to stand by him and not abandon a valiant warrior who had advanced on the strength of the martial instruction and courage bestowed upon him.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed as steadfast loyalty and responsibility: when a brave ally enters grave danger, one should not abandon him but strive to support him, even at personal risk, provided the action aligns with righteous duty in war.
After Abhimanyu has entered the enemy host/formation, Yudhiṣṭhira says that they followed him on the battlefield, intending to enter by the same route he used—signaling their attempt to back him up within the hostile formation.