Shloka 34
द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय ८७: सात्यकेरनुयात्रा
Sātyaki’s resolve and departure to reach Arjuna
शल्यस्य सोमदत्तस्य भीष्मस्य च महात्मन: । द्रोणस्याथ विकर्णस्य बाह्लीकस्य कृपस्य च,“वत्स! शल्य, सोमदत्त, महात्मा भीष्म, द्रोणाचार्य, विकर्ण, बाह्नीक, कृपाचार्य तथा अन्य जो बड़े-बूढ़े महामना भरतवंशी हैं, वे यदि तुम्हारे लिये उनसे कुछ कहेंगे तो पाण्डव उनकी बात अवश्य मानेंगे
śalyasya somadattasya bhīṣmasya ca mahātmanaḥ | droṇasyātha vikarṇasya bāhlīkasya kṛpasya ca ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “(Think of) Śalya, Somadatta, the great-souled Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Vikarna, Bāhlīka, and Kṛpa. If these venerable elders of the Bharata line were to speak to the Pāṇḍavas on your behalf, the Pāṇḍavas would surely heed their words.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral weight of seniority and established virtue: words spoken by revered elders and teachers carry ethical authority, and righteous parties are expected to respect such counsel, especially when it aims at restraint or reconciliation.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra lists prominent Kuru elders and warriors—Śalya, Somadatta, Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Vikarna, Bāhlīka, and Kṛpa—suggesting that if these respected figures were to intercede and speak to the Pāṇḍavas for someone’s benefit, the Pāṇḍavas would accept their advice.