Shloka 30

Devanagari script

मध्ये व्यूहस्य राजा तु पाण्डवश्न धनंजय: । नकुल: सहदेवश्व धर्मराजस्य पृष्ठत:,उस व्यूहके वाम पार्श्वमें भीमसेन और दाहिने पार्श्वमें महाधनुर्धर धृष्टद्युम्न खड़े हुए। उसके मध्यभागमें राजा युधिष्ठिर और पाण्डुपुत्र धनंजय खड़े थे। धर्मराजके पृष्ठभागमें नकुल और सहदेव थे

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

madhe vyūhasya rājā tu pāṇḍavaś ca dhanañjayaḥ |

nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca dharmarājasya pṛṣṭhataḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: In the very center of the battle-formation stood the king, the Pāṇḍava Yudhiṣṭhira, together with Dhanañjaya (Arjuna). Behind Dharmarāja were Nakula and Sahadeva. The arrangement underscores disciplined protection of the righteous king and coordinated duty among brothers amid the moral strain of war.

Word by Word

मध्येin the middle

व्यूहस्यof the battle-array

राजाthe king

तुindeed/but

पाण्डवःthe Pandava (Yudhiṣṭhira)

चand

धनंजयःDhanañjaya (Arjuna)

नकुलःNakula

सहदेवःSahadeva

चand

धर्मराजस्यof Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)

पृष्ठतःfrom behind/at the rear of

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja)

Arjuna (Dhanañjaya)

Nakula

Sahadeva

vyūha (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?

Even in warfare, action is framed by dharma: the righteous king is placed at the protected center, while each brother accepts a defined role. The verse highlights disciplined coordination, loyalty, and the ethical ideal of safeguarding legitimate authority rather than pursuing reckless glory.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports the Pandavas’ troop arrangement within a battle-formation: Yudhiṣṭhira and Arjuna stand in the middle, and Nakula and Sahadeva take position behind Yudhiṣṭhira, indicating a protective and strategic deployment as the battle with Karṇa’s side intensifies.