Shloka 25

Devanagari script

उत्तरं चास्य वै शूरश्नक्रं रक्षति सात्यकि: । धृष्टद्युम्नस्तथा चास्य चक्र रक्षति दक्षिणम्‌

Transliteration

uttaraṃ cāsya vai śūraś cakraṃ rakṣati sātyakiḥ | dhṛṣṭadyumnas tathā cāsya cakraṃ rakṣati dakṣiṇam ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Sātyaki yang gagah menjaga bahagian utara susunan tempurnya, dan Dhṛṣṭadyumna pula melindungi sayap selatan. Demikianlah mereka memelihara perlindungan yang teratur di tengah hiruk-pikuk perang.

Word by Word

उत्तरम्the northern (side)

चand

अस्यof him/this (one)

वैindeed

शूरःthe hero

शङ्क्रम्Shankra (proper name)

रक्षतिprotects/guards

सात्यकिःSatyaki

धृष्टद्युम्नःDhrishtadyumna

तथाlikewise

चand

अस्यof him/this (one)

चक्रम्wheel; (here) the chariot-wheel/formation

रक्षतिprotects/guards

दक्षिणम्the southern/right (side)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Sātyaki (Yuyudhāna)

Dhṛṣṭadyumna

cakra (circular battle-formation)

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?

Even in warfare, dharma expresses itself as disciplined responsibility: each warrior must hold his assigned position, protecting the whole through coordinated service rather than isolated heroics.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the protective arrangement around a circular battle-formation: Sātyaki secures the northern side while Dhṛṣṭadyumna secures the southern flank, ensuring the array remains defended on multiple fronts.