Shloka 25
रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield
सव्ये5भूत् कृतवर्मा च त्रिगर्ती: परिवारित:
savye 'bhūt kṛtavarmā ca trigartīḥ parivāritaḥ | vyūhake vāma-bhāge trigartaiḥ parivāritaḥ kṛtavarmā sthitaḥ | dakṣiṇa-pārśve śaka-yavana-senayā saha kṛpācāryaḥ | pṛṣṭha-bhāge kāmbojaiḥ parivṛto 'śvatthāmā sthitaḥ |
Sañjaya sprach: Auf dem linken Flügel stand Kṛtavarmā, umringt von den Trigartas. Auf dem rechten Flügel befand sich Kṛpācārya, begleitet von den Truppen der Śakas und Yavanas. Und im Rücken stand Aśvatthāmā, von den Kāmbojas umschlossen. So war die Schlachtordnung der Kauravas aufgestellt: erfahrene Befehlshaber sicherten Flanken und Rückraum und offenbarten den düsteren Entschluss, den Krieg durch Formationsdisziplin und verbündete Stärke zu tragen.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of war as a disciplined, collective undertaking: commanders and allied groups are placed to protect the formation. It underscores how leadership, organization, and alliances can sustain conflict—raising the Mahābhārata’s recurring reflection that martial skill and strategic order do not by themselves guarantee righteousness (dharma), even when performed as kṣatriya duty.
Sañjaya describes the Kaurava troop disposition within a battle-array: Kṛtavarmā holds the left flank with the Trigartas, Kṛpācārya holds the right with Śaka and Yavana forces, and Aśvatthāmā guards the rear surrounded by Kāmbojas.