ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा भीमसेनश् च पाण्डवः ॥
नकुलः सहदेवश् च पर्यरक्षन्त सात्यकिम् ॥
धृष्टद्युम्नमुखैः सार्धं विराटश् च सकेकयः ॥
मत्स्याः शाल्वेयसेनाश् च द्रोणम् आजग्मुर् अञ्जसा ॥
दुःशासनं पुरस्कृत्य राजपुत्राः सहस्रशः ॥
द्रोणम् अभ्युपपद्यन्त सपत्नैः परिवारितम् ॥
tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā bhīmasenaś ca pāṇḍavaḥ ||
nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca paryarakṣanta sātyakim ||
dhṛṣṭadyumnamukhaiḥ sārdhaṃ virāṭaś ca sakekayaḥ ||
matsyāḥ śālveyasenāś ca droṇam ājagmur añjasā ||
duḥśāsanaṃ puraskṛtya rājaputrāḥ sahasraśaḥ ||
droṇam abhyupapadyanta sapatnaiḥ parivāritam ||
Then king Yudhishthira, and Bhimasena the Pandava, Nakula and Sahadeva guarded Satyaki. With the warriors headed by Dhrishtadyumna, and Virata with the Kekayas, the Matsyas and the Shalveya hosts charged swiftly upon Drona. Placing Duhshasana in front, the princes by the thousand advanced upon Drona, now surrounded by foes.
1c502ec4d778 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:52:56 PM UTC
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The duel dissolves into general slaughter: the Pandavas guard Satyaki, while the Kauravas advance upon Drona by the thousand. It is telling that the valor of one is again woven back into the common cause -- he is guarded, as he once guarded Dhrishtadyumna. The verse teaches that in a righteous cause, deed and protection are mutual: whoever has saved another is saved in turn. The encircling loyalty of comrades is the foundation of victory, for each stands for each, and their strength lies not in lone champions but in unbreakable brotherhood.