Shloka 30

रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield

Devanagari script

ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा स्वेनानीकेन संवृत:

Transliteration

tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā svenānīkena saṃvṛtaḥ

Translation

Then King Yudhiṣṭhira, surrounded and supported by his own division of the army, advanced in ordered strength—an image of rightful leadership upheld by loyal protectors amid the moral strain of war.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तस्मात्/ततः = then, thereafter)

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वेन: by/with his own
• स्वेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• अनीकेन: army, troop, division
• अनीकेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• संवृतः: surrounded, encompassed
• संवृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + वृ (धातु) → संवृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (क्त)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Sanjaya
• anīka (army division/battle-array)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in warfare, rightful rule is shown through disciplined order and protective solidarity: the king does not stand as a solitary hero but is upheld by his own well-arranged forces, reflecting responsibility and collective duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Yudhiṣṭhira is positioned/advancing while being surrounded by his own military division, indicating a tactical formation and the presence of his supporting troops at this moment in the battle.