Shloka 36

Devanagari script

विनिर्जित्य रिपून्‌ वीरा: सेनयोरुभयोरपि । व्यदृश्यन्त महामात्रा ग्रहा इव नभस्तले,दोनों सेनाओंके वीर शत्रुओंको जीतकर आकाशमें फैले हुए विशाल ग्रहोंके समान दिखायी देते थे

Transliteration

vinirjitya ripūn vīrāḥ senayor ubhayor api | vyadṛśyanta mahāmātrā grahā iva nabhastale ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Having conquered their foes, the heroic champions of both armies appeared on the battlefield like great planets spread across the sky—lofty, unmistakable, and awe-inspiring in their might.

Word by Word

विनिर्जित्यhaving conquered

रिपून्enemies

वीराःheroes/warriors

सेनयोःof the two armies

उभयोःof both

अपिalso/indeed

व्यदृश्यन्तwere seen/appeared

महामात्राःgreat commanders/chiefs

ग्रहाःplanets

इवlike/as if

नभः-तलेin the expanse of the sky

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

two armies (Pāṇḍava and Kaurava forces)

enemies (ripūn)

planets/celestial bodies (grahāḥ)

sky/firmament (nabhas)

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 martial success makes warriors appear grand and dominant, yet the comparison to planets also suggests an impersonal vastness—individual valor becomes part of a larger, fated cosmic-scale conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the battlefield scene: champions on both sides, having overcome enemies, stand out prominently—visibly towering in presence, like great planets seen across the sky.