Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 24

Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel and the Discharge of the Śakti (शल्यवधप्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

शैनेयो दक्षिणं चक्र धृष्टद्युम्नस्तथोत्तरम्‌

Transliteration

śaineyo dakṣiṇaṃ cakra dhṛṣṭadyumnas tathottaram

Translation

三阇耶说道：舍因耶占据南方之位，德利什塔丢摩那亦据北方之位——二人各自于战阵之中审慎安置其所当立之处，在战火铺展之际，意志分明。

Word by Word

• शैनेयः: Śaineya (son/descendant of Śini; here a warrior’s name)
• शैनेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैनेय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दक्षिणम्: right (side/flank)
• दक्षिणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• चक्र: made / formed / arranged
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

• धृष्टद्युम्नः: Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• धृष्टद्युम्नः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृष्टद्युम्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: likewise / similarly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• उत्तरम्: left / northern (side/flank)
• उत्तरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śaineya (Sātyaki)
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• south (dakṣiṇa)
• north (uttara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in the chaos of war, disciplined placement and coordinated action reflect a warrior’s duty: leadership is shown through order, readiness, and responsibility toward one’s side.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports the tactical deployment: Śaineya (Sātyaki) takes the southern flank/position, while Dhṛṣṭadyumna takes the northern, indicating the arrangement of forces in preparation for combat.