Shloka 18
Adhyāya 143: Nocturnal duels—Nākuli and Citraseṇa; Vṛṣasena’s assault; Duḥśāsana vs Prativindhya
कृत्वा सुदुष्करं कर्म सैन्यमध्ये महाबल: । तव दर्शनमन्विच्छन् पाण्डवाभ्येति सात्यकि:,'पाण्डुनन्दन! महाबली सात्यकि कौरव-सेनाके भीतर अत्यन्त दुष्कर पराक्रम करके तुम्हें देखनेकी इच्छासे यहाँ आ रहा है
kṛtvā suduṣkaraṃ karma sainyamadhye mahābalaḥ | tava darśanam anvicchan pāṇḍavābhyeti sātyakiḥ ||
Sanjaya berkata: “Setelah melaksanakan suatu perbuatan yang amat sukar di tengah-tengah bala tentera, Sātyaki yang perkasa—dengan hasrat untuk menatapmu—kini mara menuju pihak Pāṇḍava.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that extraordinary prowess gains ethical meaning when guided by loyalty and rightful purpose: Sātyaki’s difficult feat in the enemy host is oriented toward reaching and supporting his own side rather than toward violence for its own sake.
Sañjaya informs Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Sātyaki, after performing an extremely difficult exploit within the Kaurava ranks, is now advancing toward the Pāṇḍavas, intent on meeting and aiding them.