Shloka 14

Sātyaki’s Call for Intervention and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Vow-Bound Restraint (सात्यकिवाक्यं—धर्मराजस्य धैर्यनिश्चयः)

Devanagari script

वृत्तोरुरत्यायतपीनबाहु- रेतेन संख्ये निहतो<श्वचक्र: । को नाम साम्बस्य महारथस्य रणे समक्ष रथमभ्युदीयात्‌,इनकी जाँघें गोल हैं, भुजाएँ लंबी और मोटी हैं; इन्होंने युद्धमें अश्वारोहियोंकी कितनी ही सेनाओंका संहार किया है। भला, संग्रामभूमिमें महारथी साम्बके रथके सम्मुख कौन आ सकता है?

Transliteration

vṛttorur atyāyatapīnabāhu- reteṇa saṅkhye nihato 'śvacakraḥ | ko nāma sāmbasya mahārathasya raṇe samakṣa ratham abhyudīyāt ||

Translation

バラデーヴァは言った。「丸く逞しい腿と、長く力強い腕をもって、彼は戦の渦中で騎兵の隊列を幾つもすでに打ち砕いた。戦場において、あの大車戦士サーンバの戦車に正面から乗り出して対する者が、いったい誰にいようか。」

Word by Word

वृत्तrounded

ऊरुःthighs

अति-आयतvery long

पीनthick, stout

बाहुःarms

रेतेनby (his) seed/virility (i.e., by prowess)

संख्येin battle

निहतःslain, killed

अश्वचक्रःthe cavalry/horse-troop (lit. horse-wheel/horse-array)

कःwho?

नामindeed, pray

साम्बस्यof Sāmba

महारथस्यof the great chariot-warrior

रणेin battle

समक्षम्in front, face to face

रथम्chariot

अभ्युदीयात्could advance/attack

Speaker

बलदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Baladeva

Sāmba

chariot (ratha)

cavalry/horsemen (aśvacakra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of valor and reputation in battle: proven prowess inspires confidence and deters challengers. Ethically, it reflects how martial excellence and prior deeds shape morale and perceived dharma on the battlefield.

What is happening in the narrative?

Baladeva is praising Sāmba’s physical strength and battlefield achievements, noting that he has already crushed cavalry forces and rhetorically asking who could dare to confront Sāmba’s chariot directly in combat.