Shloka 14

भीष्मरथाभिमुख्यं — Arjuna’s advance with Śikhaṇḍin; Duḥśāsana’s interception

Devanagari script

अभ्यद्रवन्त गाड़ेयं युधिष्ठिरपुरोगमा: ।। रिरक्षिषन्त: पाज्चाल्यं धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमा:

Transliteration

abhyadravanta gāḍeyaṁ yudhiṣṭhirapurogamāḥ | rirakṣiṣantaḥ pāñcālyaṁ dhṛṣṭadyumnapurogamāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Led by Yudhiṣṭhira, they charged fiercely forward, intent on protecting the Pāñcāla prince; and with Dhṛṣṭadyumna at their head, they moved to shield him amid the press of battle—an act of loyal guardianship within the harsh demands of war.

Word by Word

अभ्यद्रवन्तthey rushed/charged towards

गाण्डीवम्the Gāṇḍīva (bow)

युधिष्ठिरपुरोगमाःhaving Yudhiṣṭhira in front/led by Yudhiṣṭhira

रिरक्षिषन्तःprotecting, intending to protect

पाञ्चाल्यम्the Pāñcālya (Dṛṣṭadyumna / the Pāñcāla prince)

धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमाःhaving Dhṛṣṭadyumna in front/led by Dhṛṣṭadyumna

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Yudhiṣṭhira

Dhṛṣṭadyumna

Pāñcāla

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid violence, dharma expresses itself as responsible leadership and protective loyalty—standing guard over allies and fulfilling one’s duty without abandoning those entrusted to one’s care.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the warriors, with Yudhiṣṭhira leading, surge forward intensely, aiming to protect the Pāñcāla hero Dhṛṣṭadyumna; the line emphasizes coordinated leadership and the resolve to shield a key ally in battle.