Shloka 22
उत्तरो भयविषण्णः — बृहन्नडेन धैर्योपदेशः
Uttara’s Panic and Bṛhannadā’s Stabilizing Counsel
यदि वै सारथि: स स्यात् कुरून् सर्वान् न संशय: । जित्वा गाश्न समादाय ध्रुवमागमनं भवेत्,यदि वह सारथि हो जाय, तो निःसंदेह सम्पूर्ण कौरवोंको जीतकर और गौओंको भी वापस लेकर तुम्हारा इस नगरमें आगमन हो सकता है, यह ध्रुव सत्य है
yadi vai sārathiḥ sa syāt kurūn sarvān na saṁśayaḥ | jitvā gāś ca samādāya dhruvam āgamanaṁ bhavet ||
หากเขาเป็นสารถีจริง ก็ไม่ต้องสงสัยว่าเขาจะปราบเหล่ากุรุได้ทั้งหมด และเมื่อมีชัยพร้อมนำโคกลับคืนมา การกลับสู่เมืองนี้ของพวกท่านย่อมเป็นสิ่งแน่นอน
उत्तर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the decisive importance of capable guidance in crisis: with a truly competent charioteer (battle-guide), victory and the protection/recovery of communal wealth (the cattle) become certain. It also reflects the kṣatriya ideal of courage and responsibility for safeguarding the kingdom’s resources.
In the cattle-raid episode of Virāṭa Parva, Uttara speaks about the prospect of facing the Kurus. He asserts that if the person serving as charioteer is genuinely up to the task, then defeating the Kuru forces and bringing back the stolen cattle—and thus returning safely to the city—would be assured.