Shloka 246
रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield
मद्रकै: सहितो वीरै: कर्णपुत्रैश्न दुर्जयै: प्रस्थानकालमें कवचधारी मद्रराज शल्य उस सैन्यव्यूहके मुखस्थानमें थे। उनके साथ मद्रदेशीय वीर तथा कर्णके दुर्जय पुत्र भी थे
sañjaya uvāca | madrakaiḥ sahito vīraiḥ karṇaputraiś ca durjayaiḥ | prasthānakāle kavacadhārī madrarājaḥ śalyaḥ sa sainyavyūhasya mukhasthāne 'bhavat |
Sañjaya said: “At the time of setting forth, the Madra king Śalya, clad in armor, stood at the very front of the army formation. With him were valiant warriors of the Madra land, along with the hard-to-conquer sons of Karṇa.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical burden of martial leadership: those who command or are famed for valor are placed at the forefront, accepting the first risk and thereby embodying the kṣatriya ideal of responsibility and courage amid the tragic necessity of war.
Sañjaya describes the Kaurava-side battle arrangement as they set out: Śalya, armored, takes the vanguard of the formation, accompanied by Madra warriors and Karṇa’s formidable sons, indicating a strong front line prepared for immediate engagement.