Shloka 11
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Kaurava-Aligned Mahārathas
Warrior Roster and Motivations
विधिवद् व्यूह[ मेधावी युद्धाय धृतमानस:,उनके मनमें युद्धके लिये दृढ निश्चय था। मेधावी धृष्टद्युम्नने पाण्डवोंकी पूर्वोक्त सेनाओंकी विधिपूर्वक व्यूहरचना करके उन सबको युद्धके लिये नियुक्त किया। तत्पश्चात् वे पाण्डवोंकी विजयके लिये संनद्ध होकर समरांगणमें खड़े हुए
sañjaya uvāca | vidhivad vyūhaṃ medhāvī yuddhāya dhṛtamānasaḥ | dhṛṣṭadyumno pāṇḍavānāṃ pūrvoktāḥ senā vidhivat vyūhya sarvān yuddhāya nyayojayat | tataḥ pāṇḍavavijayāya saṃnaddhāḥ samaraṅgaṇe tasthuḥ |
Sañjaya said: With his mind firmly resolved for battle, the intelligent Dhṛṣṭadyumna arranged the Pāṇḍavas’ previously described forces in proper battle formation according to rule and assigned each division to its combat role. Then, fully armed and prepared for the Pāṇḍavas’ victory, they stood ready upon the field of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in the approach to war, action is portrayed as bound to नियम (rule) and व्यवस्था (order): leadership requires disciplined planning, clear assignment of duties, and steadfast resolve. The verse highlights strategic intelligence guided by proper procedure (vidhivat), implying that power and violence are not to be exercised impulsively but within an accepted code of conduct.
Sanjaya reports that Dhrishtadyumna, as the Pandavas’ commander, arranges the previously described Pandava forces into a formal battle-array and assigns each unit its role. After deploying the army, the warriors stand armed and ready on the battlefield, intent on securing victory for the Pandavas.