Shloka 79

पुरस्तात्‌ सैन्धवानीकं द्रोणानीकं च पृष्ठत: । बहुत्वाद्धि नरव्याप्र देवेन्द्रमपि पीडयेत्‌,नरव्याप्र! अर्जुनके सामने सिन्धुराजकी सेना है और पीछे द्रोणाचार्यकी। इसकी संख्या इतनी अधिक है कि यह देवराज इन्द्रको भी पीड़ित कर सकती है

purastāt saindhavānīkaṃ droṇānīkaṃ ca pṛṣṭhataḥ | bahutvād dhi naravyāghra devendram api pīḍayet ||

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “In front lies the army of the king of Sindhu, and behind is the army of Droṇa. O tiger among men, by sheer multitude it could harass even Indra, the lord of the gods.”

पुरस्तात्in front, ahead
पुरस्तात्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुरस्
Formtrue
सैन्धवानीकम्the Sindhava (Jayadratha's) army/host
सैन्धवानीकम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसैन्धव + अनीक
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
द्रोणानीकम्Drona's army/host
द्रोणानीकम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootद्रोण + अनीक
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
Formtrue
पृष्ठतःfrom behind, at the back
पृष्ठतः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपृष्ठ
Formtrue
बहुत्वात्because of (their) multitude
बहुत्वात्:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootबहुत्व
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
हिindeed, for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
Formtrue
नरव्याघ्रO tiger among men
नरव्याघ्र:
TypeNoun
Rootनरव्याघ्र
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
देवेन्द्रम्Indra, lord of the gods
देवेन्द्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदेवेन्द्र
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अपिeven, also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
Formtrue
पीडयेत्might afflict, could trouble
पीडयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootपीड्
FormVidhi-linga (Optative), Non-past (modal), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
नरव्याघ्रO tiger among men
नरव्याघ्र:
TypeNoun
Rootनरव्याघ्र
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

युधिष्ठिर उवाच

Y
Yudhiṣṭhira
S
Saindhava (Jayadratha, king of Sindhu)
D
Droṇa (Droṇācārya)
I
Indra (Devendra)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights sober assessment in leadership: even a righteous cause requires clear-eyed recognition of danger and the ethical responsibility to protect one’s warriors through prudent strategy rather than mere bravado.

Yudhiṣṭhira describes a tactical predicament: the Sindhu-king’s forces stand in front while Droṇa’s forces press from behind, forming a crushing pressure by their overwhelming numbers—so great that it is likened to troubling even Indra.