Shloka 30

Devanagari script

तिष्ठतो युगपालीषु शोणानप्यधितिष्ठत: । नापश्यदन्तरं द्रोणस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्‌

Transliteration

tiṣṭhato yugapālīṣu śoṇān apy adhitiṣṭhataḥ | nāpaśyad antaraṃ droṇas tad adbhutam ivābhavat ||

Translation

ಅವರು ಯುಗಪಾಲಿಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ದೃಢವಾಗಿ ನಿಂತಿದ್ದರೂ, ಸುತ್ತಲೂ ರಕ್ತವರ್ಣ ಸಂಹಾರ ಉಕ್ಕುತ್ತಿದ್ದರೂ, ದ್ರೋಣನಿಗೆ ಯಾವತ್ತೂ ಒಂದು ಬಿರುಕು ಕಾಣಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಅದು ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಅದ್ಭುತವೆನಿಸಿತು.

Word by Word

तिष्ठतःwhile (two) were standing / as the two stood

युगपालीषुon/among the yoke-pins (yoke-fasteners)

शोणान्red (ones)

अपिeven/also

अधितिष्ठतःthe two were standing upon / were mounted

नnot

अपश्यत्saw

अन्तरम्a gap/interval/opening

द्रोणःDrona

तत्that

अद्भुतम्wonderful/marvellous

इवas if/like

अभवत्became/was

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Droṇa

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In the ethical world of the Mahābhārata, prowess alone does not guarantee success; collective discipline, steadfast formation, and timely resolve can restrain even the greatest warrior. The verse highlights how order and unity in a righteous or determined stand can create a moral and tactical barrier.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that amid intense, blood-stained fighting and while the troops remain arrayed in formation, Droṇa searches for a breach but cannot find any opening. The situation appears astonishing, suggesting a moment where the opposing side’s formation and resistance hold firm against Droṇa’s efforts.