Shloka 8

Devanagari script

यास्यामि पदवीं भ्रातु: सात्वतस्य च धीमत:ः । सोड्द्य यत्तो रणे पार्थ परिरक्ष युधिष्ठिरम्‌

Transliteration

yāsyāmi padavīṁ bhrātuḥ sātvatasya ca dhīmataḥ | soḍhya yatto raṇe pārtha parirakṣa yudhiṣṭhiram ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “I shall follow the very course taken by my brother—the wise Sātvata. Therefore, O Pārtha, be steadfast and endure in battle; protect Yudhiṣṭhira on every side.”

Word by Word

यास्यामिI shall go

पदवींpath/track

भ्रातुःof (my) brother

सात्वतस्यof the Sātvata (Krishna/Vrishni)

चand

धीमतःof the wise one

सहtogether with

उद्यhaving risen/setting out

यत्तःstriving/intent

रणेin battle

पार्थO Pārtha (Arjuna)

परिरक्षprotect (thoroughly)

युधिष्ठिरम्Yudhiṣṭhira

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Kṛṣṇa (Sātvata)

Arjuna (Pārtha)

Yudhiṣṭhira

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?

In the chaos of war, steadfast endurance and vigilant effort must be directed toward protecting the rightful leader (Yudhiṣṭhira). The verse frames martial action within ethical responsibility: courage is not mere aggression but disciplined guardianship.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports an urgent instruction: Arjuna should remain resolute in battle and ensure Yudhiṣṭhira’s safety. Sañjaya also declares he will follow the course taken by his ‘brother,’ identified as the wise Sātvata (Kṛṣṇa), aligning his movement or strategy with Kṛṣṇa’s lead.