Shloka 12
Droṇa Interdicts Sātyaki; Sātyaki’s Breakthrough and Duel with Kṛtavarmā (द्रोण-निवारणम्, सात्यकि-प्रवेशः, कृतवर्म-युद्धम्)
अजानातू स यदा तु त्वां राजधर्मादधश्ष्युतम् । तदाप्रभृति कृष्णस्त्वां न तथा बहु मन्यते,परंतु जबसे श्रीकृष्णने यह जान लिया है कि आप राजोचित धर्मसे नीचे गिर गये हैं, तबसे वे आपका उस तरह अधिक आदर नहीं करते हैं
ajānātu sa yadā tu tvāṃ rājadharmād adhaḥśyutam | tadāprabhṛti kṛṣṇas tvāṃ na tathā bahu manyate ||
सञ्जय उवाच—यदा तु स त्वां राजधर्मादधः पतितं ज्ञातवान्, तदाप्रभृति कृष्णस्त्वां न तथा बहु मन्यते॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Respect and moral authority are tied to dharma: when a ruler deviates from rājadharma, even revered figures like Krishna no longer extend the same esteem. The verse underscores accountability—status and relationships do not override ethical conduct.
Sanjaya, narrating events and their moral implications, tells the addressed king that Krishna’s regard changed once Krishna recognized the king’s lapse from proper royal duty. It is a pointed ethical commentary within the war narration, linking political choices to reputational and spiritual consequences.