Shloka 7

कुरुक्षेत्रे सेनानिवेशवृत्तान्तः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra Questions Saṃjaya on the Deployed Armies

Devanagari script

पर्याक्रामत सैन्यानि यत्तास्तिष्ठत दंशिता:,“तुम सब लोग सब ओर घूम-फिरकर अपनी सेनाओंका निरीक्षण करो और कवच आदिसे सुसज्जित होकर खड़े हो जाओ। सबसे पहले पितामह भीष्मसे तुम्हारा युद्ध होगा। इसलिये अपनी सात अक्षौहिणी सेनाओंके सेनापतियोंकी देखभाल कर लो”

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | paryākrāmat sainyāni yattās tiṣṭhata daṃśitāḥ |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Zieht ringsumher und mustert die Truppen; dann, vollständig bewaffnet und gerüstet, steht bereit. Eure erste Begegnung wird mit dem Großvater Bhīṣma sein; darum sorgt für die rechte Aufsicht und Bereitschaft der Befehlshaber eurer sieben Akṣauhiṇīs.“

Word by Word

पर्याक्रामतthey marched around / advanced about

सैन्यानिarmies / troops

यत्ताःrestrained / controlled / disciplined

तिष्ठतstand (you all)! / remain!

दंशिताःarmed / equipped (with armor, etc.)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhīṣma

armies/troops (sainyāni)

armor and weapons (implied by daṃśitāḥ)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes disciplined preparedness and responsible command: before entering a morally weighty conflict—especially against a revered elder like Bhīṣma—leaders must ensure order, equipment, and clear oversight of commanders, so that action is guided by duty rather than chaos.

What is happening in the narrative?

A directive is issued to circulate through the ranks, inspect the forces, and stand fully armed. It notes that the first major confrontation will be with Bhīṣma, and therefore the commanders of the seven akṣauhiṇīs must be properly attended to and made ready.