Mahabharata 7.73.2 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 73, Shloka 2

द्रोण–सात्यकि द्वैरथम्

Droṇa and Sātyaki: The Chariot Duel

Devanagari script

व्यूढानीका वयं द्रोणं वारयाम: सम सर्वश: । प्रतिव्यूह्ू रथानीकं यतमानं तथा रणे

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |

vyūḍhānīkā vayaṁ droṇaṁ vārayāmaḥ sama sarvaśaḥ |

prativyūhya rathānīkaṁ yatamānaṁ tathā raṇe ||

Translation

ಯುಧಿಷ್ಠಿರನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ನಾವು ನಮ್ಮ ಸೇನೆಯನ್ನು ವ್ಯೂಹಬದ್ಧವಾಗಿ ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿ ದ್ರೋಣನನ್ನು ಎಲ್ಲ ದಿಕ್ಕುಗಳಿಂದಲೂ ಎಲ್ಲ ರೀತಿಯಿಂದಲೂ ತಡೆದಿದ್ದೆವು. ಅವನು ಯುದ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ರಥದಳಗಳನ್ನು ಮರು-ವ್ಯೂಹವಾಗಿ ಕಟ್ಟಿಕೊಂಡು ಮುಂದುವರಿಯಲು ಯತ್ನಿಸಿದಾಗಲೆಲ್ಲ, ನಾವೂ ಪುನಃಪುನಃ ಸೇನೆಯನ್ನು ವ್ಯೂಹವಾಗಿ ಅಣಿಗೊಳಿಸಿ ಅವನ ಮುಂದಾಟವನ್ನು ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದೆವು.

Word by Word

• व्यूढानीकाः: arrayed in battle-formation
• व्यूढानीकाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यूढानीक (व्यूढ + अनीक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Nominative, Plural

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

• वारयामः: we restrain / hold back
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (वारयति)
• Form: Present, First, Plural, Parasmaipada, Active

• सम्: completely, thoroughly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्

• सर्वशः: in every way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशस्

• प्रतिव्यूढम्: counter-arrayed, arranged in opposition
• प्रतिव्यूढम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिव्यूढ (प्रति + व्यूढ)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• रथानीकम्: the chariot-division (of the army)
• रथानीकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथानीक (रथ + अनीक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• यतमानम्: striving, making effort
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यतमान (यत् + शानच्)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Droṇa (Droṇācārya)
• rathānīka (chariot corps)
• vyūha (battle formation)
• raṇa (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a dharma-framed war, success depends on disciplined organization and restraint: coordinated formations and timely counter-formations can check even a superior commander. The verse highlights collective duty and strategic self-control rather than reckless heroics.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira describes how the Pāṇḍava side repeatedly arranged their troops in battle-formations to block Droṇa’s advance. As Droṇa attempted to maneuver his chariot corps through new formations, they responded with counter-formations to hold him back on the battlefield.