07.086
Sanjaya said:
The speech was endowed with affection, pleasing, sweet-syllabled, timely, wonderful, and was spoken spontaneously.
Upon hearing the words of Dharmaraja, Satyaki, the foremost of the Shinis, addressed Yudhishthira, the best among the Bharatas.
O Acyuta, you have heard all that I have spoken, which is justified and wonderful, and brings glory for Arjuna's sake.
O King, at such a time, seeing someone like me who is approved, you should speak to me in the same way as you do to Arjuna.
I am not to protect my life for the sake of Dhananjaya in any way. Once engaged by you, what would I not do again in the great battle?
I am ready to fight against the three worlds, including gods, demons, and humans. O king, if I am engaged by you, what challenge does this very weak one pose here?
Today, I declare to you, O King, that I will confront Suyodhana's forces on all fronts and emerge victorious in battle. This is the truth I speak to you.
I am well, having met Dhananjaya. O king, after slaying Jayadratha, I shall return to you again.
Certainly, O king, I must inform you of everything, including the words of Vāsudeva and the wise Phalguna.
I am firmly surrounded by Arjuna repeatedly, in the midst of the entire army, while listening to Vāsudeva.
Today, O Mādhava, be vigilant and protect the king. Make up your mind nobly in battle until I have slain Jayadratha.
O mighty-armed one, I would entrust the king either to you or to Pradyumna, the great chariot-warrior, and proceed without concern towards Jayadratha.
Mādhava, you are aware that in battle, Droṇa is fierce and considered the best. You have always heard of Droṇa's vow.
Bharadvaja seeks to capture Dharmaraja, and Drona is also capable of capturing Yudhishthira in battle.
Thus, entrusting Dharmaraja, the best among men, to you, I shall go today to kill Saindhava.
O Mādhava, having slain Jayadratha, I will surely return. Just as Drona might capture Dharmaraja by force in battle.
O best of men, O Mādhava, if Saindhava is restrained by Bhāradvāja, then his killing should not occur, and thus my displeasure would be avoided.
Thus, O best of men, when the truth-speaking Pandava has gone, it is clear that we must go to the forest again.
My victory will be meaningless if Drona, in his anger during the battle, captures Yudhishthira.
Today, O mighty-armed Mādhava, for my affection, and for the sake of victory and fame, protect the king in battle.
He, who has been entrusted to me by Arjuna, constantly perceives fear from Bharadvaja, O lord.
O mighty-armed one, in battle, he sees no other opponent except Rukmini's son, O lord. Or he considers me, the wise son of Bharadvaja, in battle.
O king, I am not capable of disregarding this consideration and the teacher's words, nor can I abandon you.
The teacher, protected by impenetrable armor and swift in movement, would engage in battle playfully, like a child with a bird.
If Kṛṣṇa, the wielder of the bow, were present here as Cupid, I would entrust you to him, and he would protect you just as Arjuna was protected.
Ensure your own protection, for who will be your protector when I am gone? Who will stand against Drona in battle until I reach the Pandava?
Do not fear today, O king, for the one born of Arjuna, the mighty-armed, never fails when lifting a burden.
The warriors from the regions of Sauvira, Sindhu, and Paurava, along with the northerners and southerners, and other great charioteers, are all assembled here.
O king, those who are celebrated as the great chariot warriors and followers of Karna do not even deserve a sixteenth part of the angry Arjuna.
O king, the entire earth, including gods, demons, humans, groups of demons, Kinnaras, and great serpents, is ready.
O great king, knowing that neither moving nor immovable beings can match Arjuna in battle, let your fear of Arjuna dissipate.
Where the heroes Krishna, the great archers with true power, are present, there is no failure in action in any way.
Reflect on the divine qualities, skills in weaponry, unity, and impatience in battle, as well as gratitude and compassion, especially towards your brother.
As I depart and go towards Arjuna, O king, consider Drona's remarkable weaponry in the battle.
The teacher is very eager to restrain you, O king, in order to protect his own vow and ensure its truthfulness, O descendant of Bharata.
"Do protect yourself today; who will be your protector when I am gone? Because I, trusting you, O son of Pritha, may go towards Arjuna."
O great king, I assure you that I will not leave you in the great battle. This is the truth I speak to you, O descendant of Kuru.
O best of the wise, having considered this many times with intelligence and having seen the supreme good, then, O king, please instruct me.
Yudhishthira said:
O mighty-armed Mādhava, it is as you say, but my feelings towards Śvetāśva are not yet purified, O honorable one.
I will make every effort to protect myself. You may go where Arjuna has gone, with my permission.
After considering both self-protection in battle and approaching Arjuna, I decide that going there with intelligence is preferable.
You should stand by the chariot where Dhananjaya has gone. Bhima, the mighty one, will protect me as well.
The son of Prishata, along with his brothers, the mighty princes, and the sons of Draupadi, will surely protect me, O father, without any doubt.
The five Kekaya brothers, along with the demon Ghatotkacha, Virata, Drupada, and Shikhandi, were all great chariot-warriors.
Dhṛṣṭaketu, the strong Kuntibhoja, Nakula, Sahadeva, along with the Pāñcālas and Sṛñjayas, are all focused and will undoubtedly protect you, O dear one.
Neither Drona with his army nor Kritavarma in battle will be able to approach or overpower me.
In the battle, Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Parantapa will courageously restrain the furious Droṇa, just as the shore holds back the ocean.
Wherever the son of Prishata, the formidable slayer of enemy heroes, stands in battle, Drona's army will not be able to advance strongly there.
This warrior, born from the sacrificial fire to destroy Drona, is equipped with armor, arrows, a sword, a bow, and adorned with excellent ornaments.
Proceed with confidence, O son of Śini, and do not be confused about me. Dhṛṣṭadyumna, in his anger during the battle, will confront and stop Droṇa.
