Shloka 12

Yudhiṣṭhira–Droṇa Saṃgrāma

Engagement and Countermeasures

Devanagari script

मत्प्रतिज्ञाविघातार्थ धार्तराष्ट्री: किलाच्युत । पृष्ठतः सैन्धव: कार्य: सर्वैर्गुप्तो महारथै:

Transliteration

matpratijñāvighātārtha dhārtarāṣṭrīḥ kilācyuta | pṛṣṭhataḥ saindhavaḥ kāryaḥ sarvair gupto mahārathaiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : «Ô Acyuta, il semble que les fils de Dhṛtarāṣṭra, résolus à faire échouer mon vœu, aient disposé que Saindhava soit placé à l’arrière, gardé de toutes parts par de grands guerriers de char.»

Word by Word

मत्my

प्रतिज्ञाvow, promise

विघातfor the thwarting/defeat

अर्थम्for the purpose

धार्तराष्ट्रीःthe sons/men of Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Kauravas)

किलindeed, as is said

अच्युतO Acyuta (Kṛṣṇa)

पृष्ठतःfrom behind, at the rear

सैन्धवःthe Sindhu-king (Jayadratha)

कार्यःis to be made/placed (must be kept)

सर्वैःby all

गुप्तःprotected, guarded

महारथैःby great chariot-warriors

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Acyuta (Kṛṣṇa)

Dhārtarāṣṭras (Kauravas)

Saindhava (Jayadratha)

mahārathas (great chariot-warriors)

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?

The verse highlights how vows (pratijñā) in the epic carry moral weight and drive action, while opponents may respond with collective strategy to obstruct them. It frames warfare not only as force but as a contest of resolve, duty, and ethical accountability for one’s pledged word.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava side, aiming to frustrate the opposing vow, has positioned Jayadratha (Saindhava) at the rear and surrounded him with elite warriors for protection—indicating a defensive formation centered on safeguarding a key figure.