Shloka 56
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय 54: फल्गुन-प्रतिरोधः, सौबली-व्यूह-विध्वंसः, दुर्योधन-भीष्म-संवादः
Devanagari script
जघनं पालयामास विराट: सह केकयै:
Transliteration
jaghanaṃ pālayāmāsa virāṭaḥ saha kekayaiḥ
Translation
Sañjaya said: Virāṭa, together with the Kekayas, held and guarded the rear of the formation—maintaining order and protection where a sudden attack could cause the greatest confusion.
Word by Word
जघनम्rear, rear-guard
जघनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootजघन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
पालयामासprotected, guarded
पालयामास:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootपाल्
FormPerfect (Periphrastic), Third, Singular
विराटःVirāṭa (proper name)
विराटः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootविराट
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सहtogether with
सह:
Karana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसह
केकयैःwith the Kekayas
केकयैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकेकय
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
स
संजय (Sañjaya)व
विराट (Virāṭa)क
केकय (Kekaya)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Even in war, duty includes disciplined protection of the vulnerable points of a formation; leadership is shown not only in attack but in safeguarding the rear, preventing disorder and unnecessary loss.
Sañjaya reports battlefield dispositions: Virāṭa, supported by the Kekayas, is assigned to secure the rear of the army formation, ensuring it is defended against flanking or surprise assaults.