Shloka 25

Arjuna–Bhīṣma Strategic Engagement and Mutual Arrow-Interdiction (भीष्मार्जुनसमागमः)

Devanagari script

कुरुपाण्डवसेने ते हस्त्यश्वरथसंकुले । शुशुभाते रणे5तीव पटे चित्रार्पिते इव,हाथी, घोड़े और रथोंसे भरी हुई कौरव-पाण्डवोंकी वे सेनाएँ पटपर अंकित हुई चित्रमयी सेनाओंकी भाँति उस रणभूमिमें विशेष शोभा पा रही थीं

Transliteration

kurupāṇḍavasene te hasty-aśva-ratha-saṅkule | śuśubhāte raṇe 'tīva paṭe citrārpite iva ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Those armies of the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas, crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots, shone brilliantly on the battlefield—like vivid figures painted upon a cloth. The verse highlights the striking spectacle of war: outward beauty and order masking the grave moral weight of impending destruction.

Word by Word

कुरु-पाण्डव-सेनेthe Kuru and Pandava armies

तेthose (two)

हस्ति-अश्व-रथ-संकुलेcrowded with elephants, horses, and chariots

शुशुभातेshone, were splendid

रणेin battle / on the battlefield

अतीवexceedingly, very much

पटेon a cloth/canvas

चित्र-आर्पितेdepicted/painted as a picture (lit. 'picture-placed')

इवlike, as if

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Kuru army

Pāṇḍava army

battlefield (raṇa)

elephants

horses

chariots

painted cloth/canvas (paṭa)

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 contrasts the visual splendor of martial formations with the ethical gravity of war: what appears beautiful and orderly can still be a setting for profound suffering and moral consequence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kuru and Pāṇḍava forces, packed with elephants, horses, and chariots, look dazzling on the battlefield—comparable to a richly painted scene on cloth.