Shloka 31

Bhīmasena–Drauṇi Mahāyuddha

Chariot Duel and Astra-Exchange

Devanagari script

चक्ररक्षौ तु पाउ्चाल्यौ युधामन्यूत्तमौजसौ । नार्जुनं जहतुर्युद्धे पाल्यमानौ किरीटिना

Transliteration

cakrarakṣau tu pāñcālyau yudhāmanyūttamaujāsau | nārjunaṃ jahatur yuddhe pālyamānau kirīṭinā ||

Translation

ਪਾਂਚਾਲ ਦੇ ਦੋ ਸੂਰਮੇ ਯੁਧਾਮਨ੍ਯੁ ਅਤੇ ਉੱਤਮੌਜਾ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਦੇ ਰਥ-ਚੱਕਰ ਦੇ ਰਖਵਾਲੇ ਸਨ। ਕਿਰਿਟਧਾਰੀ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਦੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਹੇਠ ਉਹ ਦੋਵੇਂ ਯੁੱਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਦੇ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਛੱਡਦੇ ਸਨ ਅਤੇ ਅਡੋਲ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਸਨ।

Word by Word

• चक्ररक्षौ: wheel-guards (protectors of the chariot-wheel)
• चक्ररक्षौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्ररक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• तु: indeed/but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• पाञ्चाल्यौ: the two Panchalas
• पाञ्चाल्यौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चाल्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• युधामन्यू: Yudhāmanyu
• युधामन्यू: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधामन्यु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उत्तमौजसौ: Uttamaujā (as one of the two; dual form used with the pair)
• उत्तमौजसौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तमौजस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• न: not/never
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अर्जुनम्: Arjuna
• अर्जुनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• जहतुः: they abandoned/left
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), Third, Dual, Parasmaipada

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• पाल्यमानौ: being protected
• पाल्यमानौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल्य
• Form: Present passive participle (शानच्/मान), Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• किरीटिना: by the diadem-wearer (Arjuna)
• किरीटिना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरीटिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna (Kirīṭin)
• Yudhāmanyu
• Uttamaujā
• Pāñcāla

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights martial dharma expressed as steadfast loyalty and disciplined protection: elite warriors accept a protective role (cakrarakṣā) and remain unwavering beside their leader in the chaos of battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Yudhāmanyu and Uttamaujā, two Pāñcāla champions, are stationed as Arjuna’s chariot-guards and do not leave him during the fighting, operating under Arjuna’s protection and command.