Shloka 23
रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield
तस्य सूतो महाराज रथस्थो5शोभयद् रथम् । स तेन संवृतो वीरो रथेनामित्रकर्षण:
tasya sūto mahārāja rathastho 'śobhayad ratham | sa tena saṁvṛto vīro rathenāmitrakarṣaṇaḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: O großer König, sein Wagenlenker, auf dem Wagen stehend, ließ den Wagen durch Geschick und Bereitschaft erstrahlen. Von diesem Wagen gedeckt und getragen, rückte der feindbezwingende Held vor—und seine Kriegskraft zeigte sich in der geordneten Disziplin des Wagenkampfes, wo Schutz, Führung und Pflicht inmitten der Gewalt der Schlacht zusammenlaufen.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that victory and valor in war are not only personal traits of the warrior but also depend on disciplined support—especially the charioteer and the well-prepared chariot. It implicitly affirms kṣatriya-dharma: competence, readiness, and coordinated roles in a righteous (duty-bound) battle setting.
Sañjaya describes a warrior whose charioteer, standing on the chariot, makes it appear splendid and battle-ready. The hero, protected and framed by that chariot, proceeds as an enemy-subduer—emphasizing the chariot as both weapon-platform and shield.