Shloka 48

Devanagari script

सैन्धव: पृष्ठतस्त्वासीत्‌ सर्वसैन्यस्य भारत । रक्षित: परमेष्वासै: कृपप्रभृतिभी रथै:

Transliteration

saindhavaḥ pṛṣṭhatas tv āsīt sarvasainyasya bhārata | rakṣitaḥ parameṣvāsaiḥ kṛpaprabhṛtibhir rathaiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: O Bhārata, the Saindhava was positioned at the rear of the entire army, protected by the foremost bowmen—warriors in chariots led by Kṛpa.

Word by Word

सैन्धवःthe Sindhu-king (Jayadratha)

पृष्ठतःfrom behind, at the rear

तुbut/indeed

आसीत्was

सर्वसैन्यस्यof the entire army

भारतO Bharata

रक्षितःprotected/guarded

परमेष्वासैःby the foremost archers

कृपप्रभृतिभिःby those beginning with Kripa (Kripa and others)

रथैःwith chariots / by chariot-warriors

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhārata (Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

Saindhava (Jayadratha)

Kṛpa

chariots (ratha)

the army (sainyā)

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 disciplined collective duty in war: a valuable or vulnerable figure is safeguarded by the most capable protectors. Ethically, it reflects how responsibility is shared—leaders and elite warriors are expected to shield those placed under their charge, even amid chaos.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Jayadratha (the Saindhava) is stationed at the rear of the Kaurava host and is being guarded by top chariot-archers, prominently Kṛpa, indicating a protective formation around him.