Mahabharata 7.175.61 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 175, Shloka 61

Devanagari script

तद्भधवान्‌ यातु कर्णेन द्वैरथं युध्यतां निशि । सात्यकि: पृष्ठगोपस्ते भविष्यति महारथ:

Transliteration

tad bhagavān yātu karṇena dvairathaṁ yudhyatāṁ niśi | sātyakiḥ pṛṣṭhagopas te bhaviṣyati mahārathaḥ ||

Translation

แล้วขอให้ท่านผู้ควรเคารพนั้นออกไปพร้อมกับกรรณะ; ให้ทั้งสองประลองยุทธด้วยรถศึกในราตรี. มหารถีสาตยกีจะเป็นผู้คุ้มกันด้านหลังและผู้พิทักษ์ของท่าน.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (plan/thing)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative, singular

• भगवान्: the revered one / lord (addressed person)
• भगवान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• यातु: let (him) go
• यातु: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (गत्यर्थे)
• Form: imperative (lot), 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

• कर्णेन: with Karna
• कर्णेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• द्वैरथम्: a chariot-duel / single-chariot combat
• द्वैरथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वैरथ
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• युध्यताम्: let the two fight
• युध्यताम्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (सम्प्रहारार्थे)
• Form: imperative (lot), 3rd, dual, ātmanepada

• निशि: at night
• निशि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा
• Form: feminine, locative, singular

• सात्यकिः: Satyaki
• सात्यकिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सात्यकि
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• पृष्ठगोपः: rear-guard / protector of the back
• पृष्ठगोपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठगोप
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• ते: of you / your
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, genitive, singular

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (सत्तायाम्)
• Form: future (luṭ), 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

• महारथः: great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karṇa
• Sātyaki

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights battlefield ethics and strategy: even amid chaos, leaders assign clear roles—direct engagement for the principal fighters and protective responsibility to a trusted ally—showing that duty in war includes safeguarding comrades, not only seeking victory.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a tactical instruction: the revered warrior is to advance together with Karṇa for a night-time chariot duel, while Sātyaki, renowned as a mahāratha, is designated to guard the rear and prevent attacks from behind.