Mahabharata · 7.85.100–101
॥
Devanāgarī
एतद् वचनम् आज्ञाय मम सत्यपराक्रम ॥
प्रविशैतद् बलं तात धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्मतेः ॥
प्रविश्य च यथान्यायं संगम्य च महारथैः ॥
यथार्हम् आत्मनः कर्म रणे सात्वत दर्शय ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
etad vacanam ājñāya mama satyaparākrama ||
praviśaitad balaṃ tāta dhārtarāṣṭrasya durmateḥ ||
praviśya ca yathānyāyaṃ saṃgamya ca mahārathaiḥ ||
yathārham ātmanaḥ karma raṇe sātvata darśaya ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
एतत् वचनम् आज्ञायetat vacanam ājñāyahaving understood this word; having heeded this speech
मम सत्यपराक्रमmama satyaparākramamine, O truly valiant one; mine, O truly valiant one
प्रविश एतत् बलम् तातpraviśa etat balam tātaenter [into] this army, O honored one; go into this host, O dear one
धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्मतेःdhārtarāṣṭrasya durmateḥof Dhritarashtra, the evil-minded; of Dhritarashtra, the malicious
प्रविश्य च यथान्यायम्praviśya ca yathānyāyamand entering as is proper; and having entered fittingly
संगम्य च महारथैःsaṃgamya ca mahārathaiḥand having met [with] the great warriors; and having encountered the maharathas
यथार्हम् आत्मनः कर्मyathārham ātmanaḥ karmaa deed befitting yourself; a deed worthy of yourself
रणे सात्वत दर्शयraṇe sātvata darśayain battle, O Satvata, display; in the fight, O Satvata, show
Translation
"Having heeded this speech of mine, O truly valiant one, enter this army of the evil-minded Dhritarashtra, O honored one. And having entered fittingly and met with the great warriors, display in battle, O Satvata, a deed worthy of yourself."
Version
76fe5250059f · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:02:23 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
In conclusion, Yudhishthira calls on Satyaki to display 'yathārham ātmanaḥ karma', a deed worthy of himself: for the noble, the highest measure is to match one's own greatness. It is telling that the counsel is not 'win at any cost' but 'be true to yourself'. The verse teaches that of the worthy one expects not mere success but a deed befitting his nature and valor; to live and fight 'according to one's own worth' means not to fall short of who one is called to be — and in this, not in victory alone, lies true honor.