Shloka 50

धृष्टद्युम्नस्य द्रोणरथारोহণं सात्यकेः प्रतिरक्षणं च | Dhrishtadyumna Boards Droṇa’s Chariot; Sātyaki’s Counter-Protection

Devanagari script

नानालिज्ैः सुधौताग्रैर्मम पुत्रो5ल्पचेतन: । इह मे स्यात्‌ परित्राणं पितेति स पुनः पुन:

Transliteration

nānālīḍhaiḥ sudhautāgrair mama putro 'lpacetanaḥ | iha me syāt paritrāṇaṃ piteti sa punaḥ punaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : «Mon fils, au jugement faible, criait sans cesse : “Père, qu’il y ait pour moi protection ici !”», tandis que des armes aux pointes nombreuses, aiguisées et bien polies, s’abattaient sur lui.

Word by Word

नानाvarious, many kinds of

अलिजैःby bees

सुधौताग्रैःwith well-washed/bright tips

ममof me, my

पुत्रःson

अल्पचेतनःof little understanding

इहhere

मेto me, for me

स्यात्may there be

परित्राणम्protection, rescue

पितःO father!

इतिthus

सःhe

पुनःagain

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied listener)

mama putraḥ (Duryodhana, implied by context)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In the midst of violence, a mind lacking discernment (alpacetana) seeks refuge not in right conduct or courage but in desperate dependence. The verse highlights how fear exposes inner weakness and how ethical steadiness and clarity are tested most sharply in crisis.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that his son, overwhelmed as sharp, polished weapons press in, repeatedly cries out for his father’s protection—signaling panic and vulnerability amid the battle’s danger.