Shloka 373
रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield
यावच्चासीद् बल शिएष्टं संग्रामे तन्निबोध मे । संजयने कहा--राजन्! हम और हमारे शत्रु जिस प्रकार युद्धके लिये उपस्थित हुए और उस समय संग्राममें हमलोगोंके पास जितनी सेना शेष रह गयी थी
yāvac cāsīd balaśreṣṭhaṃ saṅgrāme tan nibodha me |
Sañjaya sprach: Erfahre von mir, wie lange in der Schlacht das Beste unserer verbliebenen Stärke standhielt. Ich will dir sagen, o König, wie wir und unsere Feinde zum Krieg aufgestellt waren und welches Maß an Truppen uns damals noch blieb—höre zu.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in the midst of war, truthful accounting and clear understanding of one’s remaining strength are essential; the verse frames ethical narration—Sañjaya reports facts to the king without embellishment, emphasizing sober awareness amid calamity.
Sañjaya continues his battlefield report to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, announcing that he will explain how the armies were arrayed and how much of the Kaurava force still remained—setting up a detailed description of the dwindling troops and the course of the fight.