Shloka 28

Chapter 19: Prativyūha of the Pāṇḍavas — Vajra (Acala) Formation and Dawn Omens

Devanagari script

समुत्सार्य ततः पश्चाद्‌ धृष्टद्युम्नो महारथ: । भ्रातृभि: सह पुत्रैश्न सो5भ्यरक्षद्‌ युधिष्ठिरम्‌

Transliteration

samutsārya tataḥ paścād dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārathaḥ | bhrātṛbhiḥ saha putraiś ca so 'bhyarakṣad yudhiṣṭhiram ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: After driving the others back, the great chariot-warrior Dhṛṣṭadyumna then, together with his brothers and sons, took up the task of guarding King Yudhiṣṭhira. In the midst of battle’s confusion, this act underscores the kṣatriya ethic of protection—placing the safety of the rightful leader and the continuity of dharma above personal display of valor.

Word by Word

• समुत्सार्य: having driven away/removed
• समुत्सार्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उत्-√सृ (सारयति)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि, —, —, —

• ततः: then/from there
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात्

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

• महारथः: the great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भ्रातृभिः: with (his) brothers
• भ्रातृभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सह: together with
• सह: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह

• पुत्रैः: with (his) sons
• पुत्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (स)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभ्यरक्षत्: protected/guarded
• अभ्यरक्षत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√रक्ष् (रक्षति)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), Past, Third, Singular, परस्मैपदम्, कर्तरि

• युधिष्ठिरम्: Yudhishthira
• युधिष्ठिरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna's brothers
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna's sons

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya-dharma of protection: in war, safeguarding the rightful leader and the moral-political order he represents is a higher duty than individual heroics. Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s coordinated defense with kin emphasizes disciplined loyalty and responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the ongoing battle, Dhṛṣṭadyumna pushes back other fighters who are pressing in, then positions himself with his brothers and sons to form a protective guard around King Yudhiṣṭhira.