Shloka 29

Adhyāya 65: Dawn Assembly, Makara–Śyena Vyūhas, and Commander Engagements

Devanagari script

माद्रीपुत्रो तु समरे मातुलं मातृनन्दनौ

Transliteration

mādrīputro tu samare mātulaṃ mātṛnandanau

Translation

Sañjaya said: In the midst of battle, the son of Mādrī confronted his maternal uncle, and the two sons dear to their mother as well.

Word by Word

• माद्रीपुत्रः: the son of Madri (Nakula/Sahadeva)
• माद्रीपुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: माद्रीपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• मातुलम्: maternal uncle
• मातुलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातुल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मातृनन्दनौ: the two sons of the mother (the two maternal cousins/sons of the maternal aunt)
• मातृनन्दनौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृनन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Mādrī
• Mādrīputra (Nakula/Sahadeva)
• mātula (maternal uncle)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: even close family bonds (a nephew facing his maternal uncle) are drawn into conflict when kṣatriya duty and allegiance to one’s side override personal relationships, underscoring the tragic cost of adharma-driven war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a battlefield encounter in which a Mādrī-born Pāṇḍava engages his maternal uncle, while also indicating the presence or involvement of two sons described as their mother’s beloved (mātṛnandanau), emphasizing kinship ties amid combat.