Shloka 22
Sātyaki’s Call for Intervention and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Vow-Bound Restraint (सात्यकिवाक्यं—धर्मराजस्य धैर्यनिश्चयः)
अस्मप्प्रमुक्तिविशिखैर्जितारि- स्ततो महीं भोक्ष्यति धर्मराज: । निर्धार्तराष्ट्रां हतसूतपुत्रा- मेतद्धि नः कृत्यतमं यशस्यथम्,तदनन्तर अपना व्रत समाप्त करके हमारे द्वारा छोड़े हुए बाणोंसे ही शत्रुओंपर विजय पाकर धर्मराज युधिष्ठिर इस पृथ्वीका राज्य भोगेंगे। उस समयतक यह पृथ्वी धृतराष्ट्रके पुत्रोंसे रहित हो जायगी और सूतपुत्र कर्ण भी मर जायगा। यदि ऐसा हुआ तो यह हमारे लिये महान् यशोवर्धक कार्य होगा
asmad-pramukti-viśikhair jitāriḥ tato mahīṁ bhokṣyati dharma-rājaḥ | nirdhārta-rāṣṭrāṁ hata-sūta-putrām etad dhi naḥ kṛtyatamaṁ yaśasyam ||
Wika ni Balarāma: “Pagkatapos niyang ganapin ang panata, tatalunin ng Dharmarāja ang mga kaaway sa pamamagitan ng mismong mga palasong pinakawalan namin, at saka niya tatamasahin ang paghahari sa lupaing ito. Sa panahong iyon, mawawalan na ang daigdig ng mga anak ni Dhṛtarāṣṭra, at mapapatay na rin si Karṇa—ang anak ng tagapagmaneho ng karwahe. Kung mangyari ito, iyon ang pinakanaaangkop na gawa para sa amin—isang gawang lubhang nagpapalago ng aming katanyagan.”
बलदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames political victory as meaningful only when aligned with dharma and rightful kingship: Yudhiṣṭhira’s rule is presented as the ethical restoration of order, while the destruction of the Kauravas and Karṇa is treated as the necessary removal of adharma; fame (yaśas) is valued when earned through a ‘most fitting’ act (kṛtyatama) in service of righteousness.
Balarāma predicts that after a vow is completed, Yudhiṣṭhira will defeat his enemies—using arrows associated with Balarāma’s side—and then rule the earth. He foresees the elimination of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons and the death of Karṇa, and he declares that such an outcome would be a highly glory-conferring accomplishment for them.