Shloka 25
उत्पातदर्शनम् — Portents and Kāla among the Vṛṣṇis
तत उत्थाय सक्रोध: सात्यकिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत् | पज्चानां द्रौपदेयानां धृष्टद्युम्मशिखण्डिनो:,तब क्रोधमें भरे हुए सात्यकि उठे और इस प्रकार बोले--'सुमध्यमे! यह देखो, मैं द्रौपदीके पाँचों पुत्रोंके, धृष्टद्यम्मके और शिखण्डीके मार्गपर चलता हूँ, अर्थात् उनके मारनेका बदला लेता हूँ और सत्यकी शपथ खाकर कहता हूँ कि जिस पापी दुरात्मा कृतवमनि द्रोणपुत्रका सहायक बनकर रातमें सोते समय उन वीरोंका वध किया था आज उसकी भी आयु और यशका अन्त हो गया”
tata utthāya sa-krodhaḥ sātyakir vākyam abravīt | pāñcānāṃ draupadeyānāṃ dhṛṣṭadyumna-śikhaṇḍinoḥ … |
Então Sātyaki, erguendo-se tomado de ira, disse: “Ó mulher de cintura esbelta! Vê: seguirei o caminho dos cinco filhos de Draupadī, juntamente com Dhṛṣṭadyumna e Śikhaṇḍin; isto é, buscarei retribuição pelo seu massacre. Juro pela verdade que o pecador de alma perversa, Kṛtavarman, cúmplice do filho de Droṇa, que matou aqueles heróis à noite enquanto dormiam, hoje mesmo verá o fim de sua vida e de sua fama.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical outrage provoked by a grave violation of warrior-conduct—killing sleeping heroes at night—and presents the demand for accountability. It also shows how vows sworn on truth (satya) are used to bind oneself to a course of action, underscoring the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between righteous justice and anger-driven vengeance.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Sātyaki rises in fury and proclaims his intent to pursue vengeance for the slain Draupadeyas, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and Śikhaṇḍin. He identifies the killers as accomplices of Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāman) in the nighttime slaughter and declares that the perpetrator’s life and fame will end that day.