Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 26

Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel and the Discharge of the Śakti (शल्यवधप्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

“(नकुल-सहदेवके अतिरिक्त) सात्यकि मेरे दाहिने चक्रकी रक्षा करें और धृष्टद्युम्न बायें चक्रकी। आज कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुन मेरे पृष्ठभागकी रक्षामें तत्पर रहें और शस्त्रधारियोंमें श्रेष्ठ भीमसेन मेरे आगे-आगे चलें ।।

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | (nakula-sahadevake atirikta) sātyaki me dakṣiṇa-cakrasya rakṣāṃ karotu dhṛṣṭadyumno vāma-cakrasya | adya kuntīkumāro 'rjunaḥ me pṛṣṭhabhāgasya rakṣāyāṃ tatparo bhavatu, śastradhāriṣu śreṣṭho bhīmasenaś ca mama agre agre gacchatu || evam abhyadhikaḥ śalyād bhaviṣyāmi mahāmṛdhe | evam uktās tathā cakrus tadā rājñaḥ priyeṣiṇaḥ ||

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。「（ナクーラとサハデーヴァを除き）サーティヤキに我が右翼を守らせ、ドリシュタデュムナに左翼を守らせよ。今日、クンティの子アルジュナには我が背後の護りに専心させ、武器を執る者の中で最勝のビーマセーナには我が前を進ませよ。この布陣ならば、この大合戦において我はシャリヤよりも強くなろう。」そう言うと、王の意にかなうことを望むその兄弟たちは、ただちにそのとおりに実行した。

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• अभ्यधिकः: superior, greater
• अभ्यधिकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभ्यधिक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शल्यात्: than Shalya
• शल्यात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• भविष्यामि: I shall be/become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• महामृधे: in the great battle
• महामृधे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामृध
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्ताः: having been told / addressed
• उक्ताः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तथा: so, accordingly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• चक्रुः: they did
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• राज्ञः: of the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• प्रियेषिणः: desiring to please (him)
• प्रियेषिणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रियेषिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Sātyaki
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• Arjuna (Kuntīkumāra)
• Bhīmasena
• Nakula
• Sahadeva
• Śalya
• cakra (battle-formation)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: disciplined coordination, assigning protection to each flank and the rear, and loyal execution by comrades. Ethical emphasis falls on responsibility and fidelity to one’s leader and role amid the chaos of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

A commander outlines a tactical arrangement for the battle-formation: Sātyaki guards the right wing, Dhṛṣṭadyumna the left, Arjuna protects the rear, and Bhīma advances in front. Confident that this will make him superior to Śalya in the great fight, he issues the plan, and the brothers carry it out to please their king.