Shloka 30

Devanagari script

धनंजयो रथानीकमभ्यवर्तत वीर्यवान्‌ | माद्रीपुत्रौ तु शकुनिं सात्यकिश्व महारथ:

Transliteration

dhanañjayo rathānīkam abhyavartata vīryavān | mādrīputrau tu śakunim sātyakiś ca mahārathaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: The valiant Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) advanced against the enemy’s chariot-division. Meanwhile, the two sons of Mādrī (Nakula and Sahadeva), along with the great chariot-warrior Sātyaki, moved to confront Śakuni—marking a deliberate, duty-bound targeting of key instigators and commanders amid the chaos of battle.

Word by Word

• धनंजयः: Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रथानीकम्: the chariot-division/army of chariots
• रथानीकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथानीक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अभ्यवर्तत: advanced toward/attacked
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वीर्यवान्: valorous, mighty
• वीर्यवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• माद्रीपुत्रौ: the two sons of Mādrī (Nakula and Sahadeva)
• माद्रीपुत्रौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: माद्रीपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

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

• शकुनिम्: Śakuni
• शकुनिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकुनि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सात्यकिः: Sātyaki
• सात्यकिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सात्यकि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• महारथः: a great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• Rathānīka (chariot-division)
• Mādrīputra (Nakula)
• Mādrīputra (Sahadeva)
• Śakuni
• Sātyaki (Yuyudhāna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed as disciplined engagement: warriors do not fight randomly but advance with purpose—meeting formations and confronting principal agents of wrongdoing. Ethical warfare here is framed as responsibility, courage, and strategic focus rather than mere rage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports battlefield movements: Arjuna advances to engage an enemy chariot-formation, while Nakula and Sahadeva, joined by Sātyaki, turn toward Śakuni to fight him—indicating coordinated action against a key Kaurava leader.