Shloka 39
द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय ८७: सात्यकेरनुयात्रा
Sātyaki’s resolve and departure to reach Arjuna
वृकोदरार्जुनौ यत्र वृष्णिवीरश्न सात्यकि: । उत्तमौजाश्च पाज्चाल्यो युधामन्युश्न दुर्जय:,जिस पक्षमें भीमसेन, अर्जुन, वृष्णिवीर सात्यकि, पांचालवीर उत्तमौजा, दुर्जय युधामन्यु, दुर्धर्ष धृष्टद्युम्म, अपराजित वीर शिखण्डी, अश्मक, केकयराजकुमार, सोमकपुत्र क्षत्रधर्मा, चेदिराज धृष्टकेतु, चेकितान, काशिराजके पुत्र अभिभाू, द्रौपदीके पाँचों पुत्र, राजा विराट और महारथी ट्रुपद हैं, जहाँ पुरुषसिंह नकुल, सहदेव और मन्त्रदाता मधुसूदन हैं, वहाँ इस संसारमें कौन ऐसा वीर है, जो जीवित रहनेकी इच्छा रखकर इन वीरोंके साथ कभी युद्ध करेगा
vṛkodarārjunau yatra vṛṣṇivīraś ca sātyakiḥ | uttamaujāś ca pāñcālyo yudhāmanyuś ca durjayaḥ ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “On the side where Bhīma (Vṛkodara) and Arjuna stand—along with the Vṛṣṇi hero Sātyaki, the Pāñcāla champion Uttamaujā, and the unconquerable Yudhāmanyu—who in this world, still wishing to preserve his life, would dare to wage war against such warriors?”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights prudent discernment in warfare: when a side is supported by exceptionally capable and dharma-aligned champions, opposing them becomes not merely risky but ethically and strategically questionable. It underscores the Mahābhārata theme that adharma-driven ambition blinds leaders to realistic appraisal and leads to ruin.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra, anxious about the course of the battle, reflects on the formidable concentration of Pāṇḍava allies—Bhīma, Arjuna, and key Pāñcāla and Vṛṣṇi warriors. His rhetorical question conveys dread: facing such a coalition, who would fight while still hoping to survive?