Shloka 21

Aśvatthāmā’s Lamentation, Vow of Retaliation, and the Manifestation of the Nārāyaṇāstra (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय १६६)

Devanagari script

“तुम सब लोग सावधान रहकर पराक्रमपूर्वक पीछेकी ओरसे द्रोणाचार्यकी रक्षा करो। कृतवर्मा उनके दाहिने पहियेकी और राजा शल्य बायें पहियेकी रक्षा करें!

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | yūyaṁ sarve sāvadhānāḥ san parākramapūrvakaṁ paścād-bhāgena droṇācāryaṁ rakṣata | kṛtavarmā tasya dakṣiṇa-cakra-pārśvaṁ rakṣatu, rājā śalyaś ca vāma-cakra-pārśvaṁ rakṣatu ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “All of you, stay alert and, with resolute valor, protect Droṇācārya from the rear. Let Kṛtavarmā guard the right wheel-flank, and let King Śalya guard the left wheel-flank.”

Word by Word

• तुम्: you (all)
• तुम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Prathama, Bahuvacana

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Pum, Prathama, Bahuvacana

• लोकाः: people
• लोकाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Pum, Prathama, Bahuvacana

• सावधानाः: alert, vigilant
• सावधानाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सावधान
• Form: Pum, Prathama, Bahuvacana

• भूत्वा: having become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), —, —

• पराक्रमपूर्वकम्: with valor; valiantly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पराक्रम-पूर्वक
• Form: —, —, —

• पश्चात्: from behind; at the rear
• पश्चात्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात्
• Form: —, —, —

• द्रोणाचार्यम्: Dronacharya
• द्रोणाचार्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोणाचार्य
• Form: Pum, Dvitiya, Eka

• रक्षत: protect (you all)!
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: Lot (Imperative), Madhyama, Bahuvacana

• कृतवर्मा: Kritavarman
• कृतवर्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृतवर्मन्
• Form: Pum, Prathama, Eka

• तस्य: of him (of Drona)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Pum, Shashthi, Eka

• दक्षिणचक्रम्: the right wheel (side)
• दक्षिणचक्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण-चक्र
• Form: Napum, Dvitiya, Eka

• रक्षतु: let (him) protect
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: Lot (Imperative), Prathama, Eka

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Pum, Prathama, Eka

• शल्यः: Shalya
• शल्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: Pum, Prathama, Eka

• वामचक्रम्: the left wheel (side)
• वामचक्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम-चक्र
• Form: Napum, Dvitiya, Eka

• रक्षतु: let (him) protect
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: Lot (Imperative), Prathama, Eka

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Droṇācārya (Drona)
• Kṛtavarmā
• King Śalya
• chariot wheel (cakra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In the ethics of warfare (kṣatriya-dharma), vigilance and disciplined coordination are essential: protecting a key leader requires alertness, clear assignment of roles, and courageous execution without confusion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports battlefield instructions: the warriors are ordered to secure Droṇa’s vulnerable rear, while Kṛtavarmā and King Śalya are specifically tasked to guard the right and left wheel-flanks of Droṇa’s chariot, indicating a tactical protective formation around the commander.