Shloka 16

द्रोण–सात्यकि द्वैरथम्

Droṇa and Sātyaki: The Chariot Duel

Devanagari script

ततोडर्जुनो वच:ः श्रुत्वा धर्मराजेन भाषितम्‌

Transliteration

tato 'rjuno vacaḥ śrutvā dharmarājena bhāṣitam

Translation

Then Arjuna, having heard the words spoken by Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira), responded in the unfolding crisis of war—where righteous intent must still be weighed against the harsh necessities of battle and leadership.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable)

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वचः: speech, words
• वचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive), कर्तरि प्रयोग

• धर्मराजेन: by Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira)
• धर्मराजेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• भाषितम्: spoken, said
• भाषितम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: कृत (क्त) कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights attentive listening to righteous counsel: Arjuna’s next action is framed as a response to Dharmarāja’s speech, underscoring that even in war, decisions should proceed from hearing and weighing dharmic guidance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja) has spoken; Arjuna hears those words, marking a transition point where Arjuna is about to reply or act based on that counsel within the events of Droṇa Parva.