Shloka 21

Vāg-yuddha and Nimitta-darśana before the Gadāyuddha

Verbal Duel and Omens

Devanagari script

रणमण्डलमध्यस्थौ भ्रातरौ तौ नरर्षभौ

Transliteration

raṇamaṇḍalamadhyasthau bhrātarau tau nararṣabhau

Translation

সঞ্জয় বললেন—রণমণ্ডলের ঠিক মধ্যভাগে সেই দুই ভ্রাতা, নরশ্রেষ্ঠ, ষাঁড়সম পুরুষ, অচল হয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছিল।

Word by Word

• रणमण्डलमध्यस्थौ: standing in the middle of the battle-circle
• रणमण्डलमध्यस्थौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रण-मण्डल-मध्य-स्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• भ्रातरौ: two brothers
• भ्रातरौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• नरर्षभौ: two bulls among men (best of men)
• नरर्षभौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर-ऋषभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• two brothers (unnamed in this half-verse)
• raṇamaṇḍala (battlefield/battle-array center)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its starkest form: steadfastness in the center of danger and loyalty to one’s role and kin, even when war turns familial bonds into a test of resolve and righteousness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes two brother-warriors positioned in the middle of the battle formation/arena, emphasizing their prominence and courage as the fighting intensifies around them.