Shloka 19

भीष्मपतनविषये धृतराष्ट्रस्य प्रश्नाः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Questions on Bhīṣma’s Fall

Devanagari script

वाम॑ चक्र युधामन्युरुत्तमौजाश्न दक्षिणम्‌ | गोप्तारौ फाल्गुन॑ प्राप्तो फाल्गुनोडपि शिखण्डिन:

Transliteration

vāmaṃ cakraṃ yudhāmanyur uttamaujāś ca dakṣiṇam | goptārau phālgunaṃ prāpto phālguno 'pi śikhaṇḍinaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: “Yudhāmanyu menjaga roda kiri Arjuna, dan Uttamaujā menjaga roda kanan. Demikianlah Phālguna (Arjuna) memperoleh dua pelindung ini; dan Phālguna, pada gilirannya, melindungi Śikhaṇḍin.”

Word by Word

• वामम्: left (side)
• वामम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• चक्रम्: wheel (of the chariot)
• चक्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• युधामन्युः: Yudhāmanyu
• युधामन्युः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधामन्यु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उत्तमौजाः: Uttamaujā
• उत्तमौजाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तमौजस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• दक्षिणम्: right (side)
• दक्षिणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• गोप्तारौ: two protectors/guards
• गोप्तारौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• फाल्गुनम्: Phālguna (Arjuna)
• फाल्गुनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: फाल्गुन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्राप्तौ: obtained/assigned (as)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप्
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• फाल्गुनः: Phālguna (Arjuna)
• फाल्गुनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: फाल्गुन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• शिखण्डिनः: of Śikhaṇḍin
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Yudhāmanyu
• Uttamaujā
• Phālguna (Arjuna)
• Śikhaṇḍin
• chariot wheel (cakra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even the greatest warrior functions within a network of reciprocal duty: accepting protection without pride and giving protection without hesitation. The verse underscores battlefield dharma—coordinated responsibility, loyalty to allies, and strategic cooperation in pursuit of a larger righteous objective.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports the protective arrangement around Arjuna’s chariot: Yudhāmanyu defends the left side and Uttamaujā the right, while Arjuna himself safeguards Śikhaṇḍin. This describes tactical positioning and mutual guarding amid the Kurukṣetra battle.