Shloka 12

Devanagari script

मत्प्रतिज्ञाविघातार्थ धार्तराष्ट्री: किलाच्युत । पृष्ठतः सैन्धव: कार्य: सर्वैर्गुप्तो महारथै:

Transliteration

matpratijñāvighātārtha dhārtarāṣṭrīḥ kilācyuta | pṛṣṭhataḥ saindhavaḥ kāryaḥ sarvair gupto mahārathaiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “O Acyuta, it seems the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, intent on thwarting my vow, have arranged that Saindhava be stationed to the rear, guarded on all sides by great chariot-warriors.”

Word by Word

• मत्: my
• मत्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• प्रतिज्ञा: vow, promise
• प्रतिज्ञा: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिज्ञा
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• विघात: for the thwarting/defeat
• विघात: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघात
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• अर्थम्: for the purpose
• अर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• धार्तराष्ट्रीः: the sons/men of Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Kauravas)
• धार्तराष्ट्रीः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धार्तराष्ट्र (धृतराष्ट्र-अपत्य/सम्बन्धिन्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• किल: indeed, as is said
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल

• अच्युत: O Acyuta (Kṛṣṇa)
• अच्युत: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पृष्ठतः: from behind, at the rear
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठतस्

• सैन्धवः: the Sindhu-king (Jayadratha)
• सैन्धवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्धव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कार्यः: is to be made/placed (must be kept)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (भाव्य/विधेय)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वैः: by all
• सर्वैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• गुप्तः: protected, guarded
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुप्त (√गुप्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महारथैः: by great chariot-warriors
• महारथैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Acyuta (Kṛṣṇa)
• Dhārtarāṣṭras (Kauravas)
• Saindhava (Jayadratha)
• mahārathas (great chariot-warriors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how vows (pratijñā) in the epic carry moral weight and drive action, while opponents may respond with collective strategy to obstruct them. It frames warfare not only as force but as a contest of resolve, duty, and ethical accountability for one’s pledged word.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava side, aiming to frustrate the opposing vow, has positioned Jayadratha (Saindhava) at the rear and surrounded him with elite warriors for protection—indicating a defensive formation centered on safeguarding a key figure.