Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 273
रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield
प्रययौ सर्वसैन्येन कैतव्यश्ष महारथ: । मध्यभागमें कुरुकुलके प्रमुख वीरोंद्वारा सुरक्षित दुर्योधन और घुड़सवारोंकी विशाल सेनासे घिरा हुआ शकुनि भी था। उसके साथ महारथी उलूक भी सम्पूर्ण सेनासहित युद्धके लिये आगे बढ़ रहा था
sañjaya uvāca | prayayau sarvasainyena kaitavyaḥ mahārathaḥ | madhyabhāge kuru-kulasya pramukhavīraiḥ surakṣito duryodhanaḥ, aśvārūḍhānāṃ viśālena sainyena parivṛtaḥ śakuniś ca | tasya saha mahārathī ulūkaḥ api samasta-sainyena yuddhāya agrataḥ pravavre |
Sañjaya said: The great chariot-warrior—Shakuni, famed for deceit—advanced with his entire army. In the center stood Duryodhana, protected by the foremost heroes of the Kuru line; and Shakuni too was there, surrounded by a vast force of horsemen. Along with him, the mahāratha Ulūka also moved forward with all his troops, pressing on to battle. The scene underscores how power is often shielded by elite warriors, while morally compromised counsel and stratagems still drive the war’s momentum.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights a moral contrast: even when a ruler is physically protected by the best warriors, the presence of deceitful leadership and counsel (symbolized by Shakuni as 'kaitavya') can still propel a community deeper into destructive conflict. Strength and protection do not substitute for ethical governance.
Sañjaya describes the Kaurava advance: Shakuni moves forward with his full force; Duryodhana holds the central position guarded by leading Kuru fighters; Shakuni is surrounded by a large cavalry contingent; and Ulūka advances alongside with all his troops, ready for battle.
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