Shloka 21

Chapter 19: Prativyūha of the Pāṇḍavas — Vajra (Acala) Formation and Dawn Omens

Devanagari script

चक्ररक्षौ तु भीमस्य माद्रीपुत्रौ महाद्युतौ | द्रौपदेया: ससौभद्रा: पृष्ठगोपास्तरस्विन:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

chakra-rakṣau tu bhīmasya mādrī-putrau mahā-dyutau |

draupadeyāḥ sa-saubhadraḥ pṛṣṭha-gopās tarasvinaḥ ||

Translation

Roda-roda kereta Bhīma dijaga oleh dua putra Mādrī yang bercahaya—Nakula dan Sahadeva. Di belakangnya, putra-putra Draupadī bersama Saubhadra (Abhimanyu), para kesatria yang tangkas, melindungi barisan belakangnya.

Word by Word

• चक्ररक्षौ: the two (as) protectors of the wheels
• चक्ररक्षौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्ररक्षा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Dual

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

• भीमस्य: of Bhima
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• माद्रीपुत्रौ: the two sons of Madri (Nakula and Sahadeva)
• माद्रीपुत्रौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: माद्रीपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• महाद्युतौ: of great splendor
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाद्युति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

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

• ससौभद्राः: together with Saubhadra (Abhimanyu)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ससौभद्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पृष्ठगोपाः: guards of the rear/back
• पृष्ठगोपाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठगोप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तरस्विनः: swift/impetuous
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तरस्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīma
• Mādrī
• Nakula
• Sahadeva
• Draupadī
• Draupadeyas (sons of Draupadī)
• Saubhadra (Abhimanyu)
• Chariot wheels (chakra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in warfare, dharma is expressed through disciplined responsibility: protecting comrades, maintaining order, and acting as a coordinated unit rather than pursuing isolated glory.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Bhīma’s protective formation: Nakula and Sahadeva guard the chariot wheels (preventing immobilization or tactical vulnerability), while Draupadī’s sons and Abhimanyu secure the rear as a swift rear-guard.