Shloka 11

Devanagari script

।। द्रुपदश्ष तथा राजा पञ्चालैरभिरक्षित:

Transliteration

drupadaś ca tathā rājā pañcālair abhirakṣitaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Drupada too—the king—was being guarded and protected by the Pañcālas. The line underscores the wartime ethic of shielding one’s ruler: in the chaos of battle, the safety of the king becomes a collective duty, upheld through loyal vigilance and organized defense.

Word by Word

• द्रुपदः: Drupada
• द्रुपदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुपद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: likewise/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पञ्चालैः: by the Panchalas
• पञ्चालैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चाल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अभिरक्षितः: protected/guarded
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-रक्ष्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Drupada
• Pañcālas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In a dharmic polity, the ruler’s safety is not merely personal but institutional: loyal allies and subjects must protect the king, especially in war, because leadership continuity safeguards the community’s order and morale.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports battlefield positioning: King Drupada is surrounded and defended by the Pañcāla forces, indicating coordinated protection around a key leader amid the fighting.