Shloka 49

Devanagari script

रक्ष्यमाणं तथा द्रोणं सर्वैस्तैस्तु महारथै:

Transliteration

rakṣyamāṇaṃ tathā droṇaṃ sarvaiḥ stais tu mahārathaiḥ

Translation

Sañjaya dit : «Ainsi Droṇa était-il gardé—protégé de toutes parts par tous ces grands guerriers de char—afin qu’il pût poursuivre son œuvre redoutable dans la bataille.»

Word by Word

• रक्ष्यमाणम्: being protected/guarded
• रक्ष्यमाणम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: शानच् (वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: thus, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• द्रोणम्: Drona
• द्रोणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सर्वैः: by all
• सर्वैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• एतैः: by these
• एतैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• महारथैः: by the great chariot-warriors
• महारथैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇa
• mahārathas (great chariot-warriors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: excellence and loyalty can be organized to protect a powerful leader, yet such coordinated protection also enables continued violence. It invites reflection on how collective duty and strategic necessity may conflict with broader moral concerns.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Droṇa is being actively guarded by a group of elite warriors (mahārathas). The Kaurava side is forming a protective screen around their commander so he can operate effectively on the battlefield.