Shloka 12

शल्य–युधिष्ठिरयुद्धप्रारम्भः

Commencement of the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel

Devanagari script

ततस्तु नकुलः शूरो धर्मराजे प्रपीडिते | अभिदुद्राव वेगेन मातुलं मातृनन्दन:

Transliteration

tatastu nakulaḥ śūro dharmarāje prapīḍite | abhidudrāva vegena mātulaṃ mātṛnandanaḥ ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：随后，当坚守法义的尤提施提罗王被舍利耶逼迫得甚为惨重之时，勇武的那俱罗为使母亲欢悦、为守家族之责，便以极快之势冲向自己的舅父。

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततस्
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from that/thereupon')

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु
• Form: Avyaya (particle)

• नकुलः: Nakula
• नकुलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुल
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• शूरः: heroic, brave
• शूरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular (agreeing with नकुलः)

• धर्मराजे: in/when Dharmaraja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• धर्मराजे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज
• Form: Masculine, locative, singular

• प्रपीडिते: being severely afflicted/pressed
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-पीड्
• Form: Past passive participle, locative masculine singular (agreeing with धर्मराजे)

• अभिदुद्राव: ran up/charged
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-द्रु
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, singular, parasmaipada

• वेगेन: with speed, swiftly
• वेगेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग
• Form: Masculine, instrumental, singular

• मातुलम्: maternal uncle
• मातुलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातुल
• Form: Masculine, accusative, singular

• मातृनन्दनः: mother-delighter (one who gladdens his mother)
• मातृनन्दनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ-नन्दन
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular (apposition to नकुलः)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Nakula
• Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Śalya (maternal uncle of Nakula, implied by mātula)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in crisis: when a righteous leader is endangered, a warrior must act decisively to protect him, even when the opponent is a close relative—showing the painful ethical tension between family ties and duty in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

As Yudhiṣṭhira is being heavily pressured in battle (by Śalya), Nakula swiftly rushes forward to attack his maternal uncle, attempting to relieve the king and turn the tide.