Shloka 20

Devanagari script

हृष्टा दुर्योधनस्यार्थे ब्रह्मलोकाय दीक्षिता: । समर्था दश वाहिन्य: परिगृहय व्यवस्थिता:,इन सबने काले मृगचर्म बाँध रखे थे। सभी बलवान्‌ और युद्धभूमिमें सुशोभित होनेवाले थे और सबने दुर्योधनके हितके लिये बड़े हर्ष और उल्लासके साथ ब्रह्मलोककी दीक्षा ली थी। ये सामर्थ्यशाली दस वीर अपने सेनापतित्वमें दस सेनाओंको लेकर युद्धके लिये तैयार खड़े थे

Transliteration

hṛṣṭā duryodhanasyārthe brahmalokāya dīkṣitāḥ | samarthā daśa vāhinyaḥ parigṛhya vyavasthitāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “Rejoicing for Duryodhana’s cause, they had taken a solemn vow aimed at attaining Brahmaloka. Mighty in strength, they stood ready for battle, each having taken charge of a division of troops—ten capable leaders commanding ten armies, prepared to fight for his interest.”

Word by Word

हृष्टाःdelighted, joyful

दुर्योधनस्यof Duryodhana

अर्थेfor the sake (in the interest)

ब्रह्मलोकायfor Brahmaloka (attainment of Brahma-world)

दीक्षिताःinitiated, consecrated

समर्थाःcapable, strong

दशten

वाहिन्यःarmies/divisions

परिगृह्यhaving taken/accepted (having assumed)

व्यवस्थिताःstanding ready, stationed

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Duryodhana

Brahmaloka

vāhinī (army-division)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how intense loyalty and martial enthusiasm can be framed as a sacred vow (dīkṣā) aimed at heavenly reward (Brahmaloka). It implicitly raises an ethical tension central to the Mahābhārata: religious language and lofty goals can be invoked in support of a partisan cause, even when the broader dharmic legitimacy of that cause is contested.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Duryodhana’s side as fully organized for war: ten powerful leaders, each entrusted with a division (vāhinī), stand arrayed and ready. Their morale is high, and they are portrayed as having undertaken a consecrated resolve connected with attaining Brahmaloka.