Shloka 553

Sātyaki-praveśaḥ and Duryodhana-saṃnipātaḥ

Sātyaki’s passage and Duryodhana’s mass engagement

Devanagari script

द्रोणमभ्युपपद्यन्त सपत्नै: परिवारितम्‌ । उधरसे सहस्रों राजकुमार दुःशासनको आगे करके शत्रुओंसे घिरे हुए द्रोणाचार्यके पास उनकी रक्षाके लिये आ पहुँचे

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | droṇam abhyupapadyanta sapatnaiḥ parivāritam | udharase sahasroṃ rājaku-mārā duḥśāsanako āge karke śatrubhiḥ ghire hue droṇācārya-ke pāsa unakī rakṣā-ke liye ā prāpuḥ |

Translation

サञ्जヤは語った。敵に取り囲まれたドローナを見て、王子たち千人が彼を守るために馳せ集まり、ドゥフシャーサナを先頭に立てて、敵に押し包まれる師のもとへ到着した。この場面は、戦場の混乱の中でも将帥にして師を護るという武人の掟を示す。だが同時に、忠誠が力によって示されるという、この戦の道義的な苦さも浮かび上がる。

Word by Word

• द्रोणम्: Drona
• द्रोणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभ्युपपद्यन्त: they approached / came up to
• अभ्युपपद्यन्त: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-उप-√पद्
• Form: Imperfect, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• सपत्नैः: by enemies / rivals
• सपत्नैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सपत्न
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• परिवारितम्: surrounded
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-√वृ (परिवारित)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Droṇa (Droṇācārya)
• Duḥśāsana
• royal princes (rājakumārāḥ)
• enemies/rivals (sapatna/śatru)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage highlights kṣatriya-duty expressed as steadfast protection of one’s leader and teacher in battle. It also invites reflection on how loyalty and obligation can operate within an ethically complex war, where the same virtues (courage, fidelity) are exercised amid destructive ends.

What is happening in the narrative?

Droṇa is surrounded by enemies on the battlefield. In response, a large contingent—described as a thousand royal princes—rushes to his side to shield him, with Duḥśāsana placed at the forefront as their leading figure.