Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 24

Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel and the Discharge of the Śakti (शल्यवधप्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

शैनेयो दक्षिणं चक्र धृष्टद्युम्नस्तथोत्तरम्‌

Transliteration

śaineyo dakṣiṇaṃ cakra dhṛṣṭadyumnas tathottaram

Translation

সঞ্জয় বললেন—শৈনেয় দক্ষিণ চক্র গ্রহণ করল, আর ধৃষ্টদ্যুম্ন তদ্রূপ উত্তর চক্র; যুদ্ধবিন্যাসে উভয়েই বিচক্ষণভাবে নিজ নিজ স্থান স্থির করল।

Word by Word

• शैनेयः: Śaineya (son/descendant of Śini; here a warrior’s name)
• शैनेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैनेय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दक्षिणम्: right (side/flank)
• दक्षिणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• चक्र: made / formed / arranged
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

• धृष्टद्युम्नः: Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• धृष्टद्युम्नः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृष्टद्युम्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: likewise / similarly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• उत्तरम्: left / northern (side/flank)
• उत्तरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śaineya (Sātyaki)
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• south (dakṣiṇa)
• north (uttara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in the chaos of war, disciplined placement and coordinated action reflect a warrior’s duty: leadership is shown through order, readiness, and responsibility toward one’s side.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports the tactical deployment: Śaineya (Sātyaki) takes the southern flank/position, while Dhṛṣṭadyumna takes the northern, indicating the arrangement of forces in preparation for combat.