Shloka 353
Adhyāya 143: Nocturnal duels—Nākuli and Citraseṇa; Vṛṣasena’s assault; Duḥśāsana vs Prativindhya
आचार्याद् भयमुत्सृज्य यः प्रैषयत् सात्यकिम् । “केशव! मैं तो धर्मराजके इस कार्यको विपरीत समझता हूँ, जिन्होंने द्रोणाचार्यका भय छोड़कर सात्यकिको इधर भेज दिया
ācāryād bhayam utsṛjya yaḥ praiṣayat sātyakim |
सञ्जय उवाच— आचार्याद् भयमुत्सृज्य यः सात्यकिमिह प्रैषयत्; केशव, तद् धर्मराजस्य कर्म विपरीतमिव मे प्रतिभाति, यत् स द्रोणभयं त्यक्त्वा सात्यकिमत्र प्रेषितवान्।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, a ruler’s orders are judged by dharma and prudence: abandoning fear can be courage, but sending a key warrior away from a grave threat (Droṇa) may be seen as ethically and strategically improper if it endangers the larger duty of protecting the army and upholding righteous aims.
Sañjaya reports a critical reaction to Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira) sending Sātyaki to another front while Droṇa remains a dominant danger. Addressing Keśava (Kṛṣṇa), the speaker frames the move as ‘viparīta’—a questionable or contrary course—because it seems to disregard the immediate peril posed by Droṇa.