Shloka 31
त्रिपुरदाह-इतिहासः
Tripura-destruction exemplum and counsel to Śalya
सो5चरत् सहसा खड्गी मण्डलानि समन्तत: । चतुर्दश महाराज शिक्षाबलसमन्वित:,महाराज! सुतसोम शिक्षा और बल दोनोंसे सम्पन्न था, वह खड़्ग लेकर सहसा उसके चौदह मण्डल (पैंतरे) दिखाता हुआ रणभूमिमें सब ओर विचरने लगा
so 'carat sahasā khaḍgī maṇḍalāni samantataḥ | caturdaśa mahārāja śikṣā-bala-samanvitaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then, sword in hand, he suddenly moved about on every side, displaying the fourteen circular maneuvers. O King, endowed with disciplined training and strength alike, Sutasoma ranged across the battlefield, showing martial skill as a sign of readiness and resolve amid the moral weight of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of disciplined preparedness: true prowess is not mere aggression but trained control (śikṣā) joined with strength (bala). Even in war—an ethically weighty arena—skill is shown as regulated competence rather than chaotic violence.
Sañjaya describes a warrior suddenly moving across the battlefield with a sword, performing the traditional ‘fourteen maṇḍalas’—circular footwork and feints—circling in all directions to display readiness and intimidate or engage opponents.