Shloka 21
Sainyasaṅgraha and Bhāga-Vyavasthā (Forces Assembled and Rival Allocations) | सैन्यसंग्रह-भागव्यवस्था
भरतनन्दन! सुवर्णनिर्मित ध्वजाओंसे युक्त महाधनुर्धथर द्रौपदीपुत्र भी धृष्टद्युम्नके साथ द्रोणगपर आक्रमण करेंगे ।। चेकितान: सोमदत्तं द्वैरथे योद्धुमिच्छति । भोजं तु कृतवर्माणं युयुधानो युयुत्सति,चेकितान द्वैरथ-संग्राममें सोमदत्तके साथ युद्ध करना चाहते हैं। सात्यकि भोजवंशी कृतवर्माके साथ युद्ध करनेको उत्सुक हैं
sañjaya uvāca |
cekitānaḥ somadattaṃ dvairathe yoddhum icchati |
bhojaṃ tu kṛtavarmāṇaṃ yuyudhāno yuyutsati ||
Sanjaya said: “Chekitana wishes to fight Somadatta in a chariot-duel. And Yuyudhana (Satyaki) is eager to engage Kritavarman of the Bhojas.” The narration marks the deliberate pairing of warriors—each choosing a worthy counterpart—signaling resolve, accountability, and the grim ethics of kṣatriya warfare where personal valor is tested within agreed forms of combat.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a kṣatriya-war ethic: combat is undertaken with conscious choice of an opponent and within recognized forms (dvairatha), emphasizing personal responsibility, courage, and adherence to martial codes even amid a larger, morally fraught war.
Sanjaya reports the intended matchups for battle: Chekitana plans to meet Somadatta in a chariot duel, and Satyaki (Yuyudhana) seeks to fight Kritavarman of the Bhojas—signaling readiness and the organization of forces through specific rival engagements.