Shloka 124
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
रथाद् रथमभिद्र॒त्य पर्यष्वजत पाण्डवम् | शत्रुओंका दमन करनेवाले नरेश! ऐसा कहकर बड़ी भुजाओंवाले सात्यकि अपने रथसे कूदकर भीमसेनके रथपर जा चढ़े और उनको हृदयसे लगा लिया || १२३ है || ततः स्वरथमास्थाय पुनरेव महारथ: । तावकानवधीत् क्रुद्धो भीमस्य बलमादधत्,तत्पश्चात् क्रोधमें भरे हुए महारथी सात्यकिने पुनः अपने रथपर बैठकर भीमसेनका बल बढ़ाते हुए आपके सैनिकोंका संहार आरम्भ किया
sañjaya uvāca |
athāśvaratham āsthāya punar eva mahārathaḥ |
tāvakān avadhīt kruddho bhīmasya balam ādadhat ||
Sanjaya said: Then Sātyaki, the great chariot-warrior, mounted his own chariot again. Inflamed with anger and intent on strengthening Bhīmasena’s momentum, he began to cut down your troops. The episode underscores a battlefield ethic of loyal support: Sātyaki’s fury is not mere rage, but a directed resolve to protect allies and uphold the Pandava cause in the chaos of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfast loyalty and purposeful valor: a warrior’s energy and even anger are to be disciplined toward protecting allies and sustaining righteous resolve, rather than becoming uncontrolled violence.
After an intervening action to support Bhīma, Sātyaki returns to his own chariot and, in anger, attacks and slays soldiers from Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s side, thereby reinforcing Bhīmasena’s fighting strength and momentum on the battlefield.