Shloka 29

शल्य–युधिष्ठिरयुद्धप्रारम्भः

Commencement of the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel

Devanagari script

अथान्यं रथमास्थाय सात्यकि: सत्यविक्रम: । पीडितान्‌ पाण्डवान्‌ दृष्टवा मद्रराजवशंगतान्‌

Transliteration

athānyaṃ ratham āsthāya sātyakiḥ satyavikramaḥ | pīḍitān pāṇḍavān dṛṣṭvā madrarājavaśaṃgatān ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：于是，勇力从不失却的萨提耶迦登上另一辆战车。见般度诸子被逼迫得甚紧，几乎落入摩陀罗王的掌控之下，他便准备出手——既为盟友之忠义，亦为武士之本分：护持在战阵中被压倒者。

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अन्यम्: another
• अन्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आस्थाय: having mounted/ascended
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (स्था)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• सात्यकिः: Sātyaki
• सात्यकिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सात्यकि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सत्यविक्रमः: of true valor
• सत्यविक्रमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य-विक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पीडितान्: afflicted, oppressed
• पीडितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीडित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• पाण्डवान्: the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• मद्रराज: king of Madra (Śalya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्र-राज
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (as first member in compound), Singular

• वशम्: control, power, sway
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• गतान्: gone to, fallen under
• गतान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Sātyaki
• Pāṇḍavas
• Madrarāja (Śalya)
• chariot

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In the midst of chaos, dharma expresses itself as timely responsibility: a warrior-leader does not remain passive when allies are overwhelmed. Sātyaki’s swift decision embodies steadfast courage and protective loyalty, emphasizing action guided by duty rather than despair.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Sātyaki changes to another chariot and, seeing the Pāṇḍavas being severely pressed and effectively dominated by the king of Madra (Śalya), moves to intervene in the battle situation.