Shloka 43

Devanagari script

कृत्वा व्यूहमभेद्यं च पातयित्वा महारथान्‌ | जयद्रथस्य समरे कृत्वा रक्षां महारथ:

Transliteration

kṛtvā vyūham abhedyaṃ ca pātayitvā mahārathān | jayadrathasya samare kṛtvā rakṣāṃ mahārathaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “Having formed an impenetrable battle-array, and after striking down great chariot-warriors, the great warrior then established a protective guard for Jayadratha in the fight.”

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done/made
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• व्यूहम्: battle-array/formation
• व्यूहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यूह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभेद्यम्: unbreakable/impregnable
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पातयित्वा: having caused to fall/slain
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत्/पातय् (धातु; causative of पत्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), णिच्-प्रयोग

• महारथान्: great chariot-warriors
• महारथान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• जयद्रथस्य: of Jayadratha
• Type: Noun
• Root: जयद्रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• रक्षाम्: protection/guard
• रक्षाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• महारथः: the great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Jayadratha
• vyūha
• mahāratha

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension in war: martial excellence is shown not only by personal valor but by strategic responsibility—creating defenses and protecting an ally. It reflects kṣatriya-dharma as skillful action (strategy, formation) directed toward one’s pledged objective (guarding Jayadratha), even amid lethal conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a key tactical moment: a great warrior organizes an impenetrable formation, defeats prominent fighters, and then sets up a protective cordon around Jayadratha so that he remains shielded during the battle.