Mahabharata · 7.116.4–5
॥
Devanāgarī
अजयद् राजपुत्रांस् तान् यतमानान् महारणे ॥
एकः पञ्चाशतं शत्रून् सात्यकिः सत्यविक्रमः ॥
संप्राप्य भारतीमध्यं तलघोषसमाकुलम् ॥
असिशक्तिगदापूर्णम् अप्लवं सलिलं यथा ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ajayad rājaputrāṃs tān yatamānān mahāraṇe ||
ekaḥ pañcāśataṃ śatrūn sātyakiḥ satyavikramaḥ ||
saṃprāpya bhāratīmadhyaṃ talaghoṣasamākulam ||
asiśaktigadāpūrṇam aplavaṃ salilaṃ yathā ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
अजयत् राजपुत्रान् तान्ajayat rājaputrān tānconquered those princes; overcame those princes
यतमानान् महारणेyatamānān mahāraṇestriving [in the] great battle; who had striven in the great battle
एकः पञ्चाशतम् शत्रून्ekaḥ pañcāśatam śatrūnone — fifty enemies; one — fifty enemies
सात्यकिः सत्यविक्रमःsātyakiḥ satyavikramaḥSatyaki, [of] true valor; Satyaki, truly valorous
संप्राप्य भारतीमध्यम्saṃprāpya bhāratīmadhyamhaving reached the middle of the Bharata [host]; having reached the middle of the Bharata [host]
तलघोषसमाकुलम्talaghoṣasamākulamfilled with the clapping of hands; full of the clapping of hands
असिशक्तिगदापूर्णम्asiśaktigadāpūrṇamfilled with swords, shaktis, maces; full of swords, spears, and maces
अप्लवम् सलिलम् यथाaplavam salilam yathālike impassable waters; like uncrossable waters
Translation
Satyaki, of true valor, alone conquered those fifty enemy princes who had striven in the great battle — having reached the middle of the Bharata host, filled with the clapping of hands, full of swords, shaktis, and maces, like impassable water.
Version
9901ea20e0d1 · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:25:13 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
One overcomes fifty: "true valor" (satya-vikrama) does not count enemies. It is significant that the army is again likened to impassable water — yet Satyaki enters its very midst. The verse teaches that genuine courage is measured not by the balance of forces but by fidelity to purpose; and he who is truly valorous does not retreat before multitude, like a swimmer resolved to cross the boundless.