Shloka 31

Devanagari script

चक्ररक्षौ तु पाउ्चाल्यौ युधामन्यूत्तमौजसौ । नार्जुनं जहतुर्युद्धे पाल्यमानौ किरीटिना,पांचाल महारथी युधामन्यु और उत्तमौजा अर्जुनके चक्ररक्षक थे। किरीटधारी अर्जुनसे सुरक्षित होकर उन दोनोंने युद्धमें कभी उनका साथ नहीं छोड़ा

Transliteration

cakrarakṣau tu pāñcālyau yudhāmanyūttamaujāsau | nārjunaṃ jahatur yuddhe pālyamānau kirīṭinā ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: The two Pāñcāla heroes, Yudhāmanyu and Uttamaujā, served as Arjuna’s wheel-guards. Protected by the diadem-wearing Arjuna, they did not abandon him in battle, remaining steadfast at his side.

Word by Word

चक्ररक्षौwheel-guards (protectors of the chariot-wheel)

तुindeed/but

पाञ्चाल्यौthe two Panchalas

युधामन्यूYudhāmanyu

उत्तमौजसौUttamaujā (as one of the two; dual form used with the pair)

नnot/never

अर्जुनम्Arjuna

जहतुःthey abandoned/left

युद्धेin battle

पाल्यमानौbeing protected

किरीटिनाby the diadem-wearer (Arjuna)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Arjuna (Kirīṭin)

Yudhāmanyu

Uttamaujā

Pāñcāla

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 steadfast loyalty and disciplined protection: elite warriors accept a protective role (cakrarakṣā) and remain unwavering beside their leader in the chaos of battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Yudhāmanyu and Uttamaujā, two Pāñcāla champions, are stationed as Arjuna’s chariot-guards and do not leave him during the fighting, operating under Arjuna’s protection and command.