Shloka 29

Devanagari script

शकटस्य तु राजेन्द्र भारद्वाजो मुखे स्थित: । अनु तस्याभवद्‌ भोजो जुगोपैनं ततः स्वयम्‌,राजेन्द्र! उस शकटव्यूहके मुहानेपर भरद्वाजनन्दन द्रोणाचार्य थे और उनके पीछे भोज था, जो स्वयं आचार्यकी रक्षा करता था

Transliteration

śakaṭasya tu rājendra bhāradvājo mukhe sthitaḥ | anu tasyābhavad bhojo jugopainaṃ tataḥ svayam ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “O king, at the very front of the Śakaṭa (cart-shaped) battle-formation stood Bhāradvāja’s son, Droṇa. Close behind him was Bhoja, who personally guarded the preceptor.”

Word by Word

शकटस्यof the cart/Śakaṭa (formation)

तुbut/indeed

राजेन्द्रO king of kings

भारद्वाजःBhāradvāja (Drona)

मुखेat the front/mouth (entrance)

स्थितःstanding/placed

अनुafter/behind

तस्यof him/of that

अभवत्was/became

भोजःBhoja (a warrior/king named Bhoja)

जुगोपprotected/guarded

एनम्him

ततःthereupon/then

स्वयम्himself

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Droṇācārya (Bhāradvāja’s son)

Bhāradvāja

Bhoja

Śakaṭa-vyūha (cart-shaped battle formation)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights martial dharma expressed as disciplined strategy and loyal protection: a key leader (Droṇa) takes the most exposed position, while a trusted warrior (Bhoja) assumes responsibility to guard him, reflecting duty, hierarchy, and steadfast support in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the Kaurava troop arrangement: in the Śakaṭa (cart-shaped) formation, Droṇa stands at the very front, and Bhoja follows immediately behind, personally acting as Droṇa’s protector.