Shloka 2
रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield
राज्ञश्न मतमाज्ञाय समनहात सा चमू: । अयोजयमन् रथांस्तूर्ण पर्यधावंस्तथा परे
sañjaya uvāca | rājñaś ca matam ājñāya samanahāt sā camūḥ | ayojayan rathāṁs tūrṇaṁ paryadhāvaṁs tathā pare ||
Sañjaya said: Having understood the king’s intention, the army at once began to make itself ready. Some swiftly yoked the chariots, while others ran in every direction, hastening the preparations for battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how swiftly collective action follows a ruler’s declared resolve: once the king’s intention is understood, the machinery of war moves forward almost automatically. Ethically, it points to the weight of leadership decisions and the responsibility borne by those who set events in motion.
Sañjaya reports that, upon grasping the king’s plan, the army begins immediate battle preparations: some harness chariots quickly while others run about organizing and readying the forces.