Shloka 16

Devanagari script

तं शिखण्डी च भीमश्न धष्टद्युम्नश्न पार्षत: । नकुल: सहदेवश्न द्रौपदेयाश्व॒ सात्यकि:

Transliteration

taṁ śikhaṇḍī ca bhīmaś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ | nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca draupadeyāś ca sātyakiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Around him gathered Śikhaṇḍin, Bhīma, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna the son of Pārṣata (Drupada); Nakula and Sahadeva as well; and the sons of Draupadī, along with Sātyaki.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शिखण्डी: Shikhaṇḍī
• शिखण्डी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• भीमसेनः: Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• भीमसेनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धृष्टद्युम्नः: Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• धृष्टद्युम्नः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृष्टद्युम्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पार्षतः: the Pārṣata (son of Pṛṣata; epithet of Dhṛṣṭadyumna)
• पार्षतः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्षत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नकुलः: Nakula
• नकुलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सहदेवः: Sahadeva
• सहदेवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहदेव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• द्रौपदेयाः: the sons of Draupadī
• द्रौपदेयाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौपदेय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• सात्यकिः: Sātyaki
• सात्यकिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सात्यकि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śikhaṇḍin
• Bhīma
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• Drupada (Pārṣata)
• Nakula
• Sahadeva
• Draupadeyas (sons of Draupadī)
• Sātyaki

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In the midst of war, righteous purpose is sustained not only by individual valor but by coordinated support and loyalty among allies. The verse highlights disciplined unity—warriors standing together to protect one another while pursuing their chosen dharmic objective.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya enumerates key Pāṇḍava-aligned fighters—Śikhaṇḍin, Bhīma, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Nakula, Sahadeva, the Draupadeyas, and Sātyaki—indicating that they are positioned together around a central figure (“him”), forming a concentrated group in the ongoing battle.