Shloka 6
Sainyavinyāsa–Lakṣaṇa (Disposition of Armies and Battlefield Omens) | सैन्यविन्यास–लक्षणम्
चक्रे वायु: पृष्ठत: पाण्डवानां धार्तराष्ट्रज्शवापदा व्याहरन्त । गजेन्द्राणां मदगन्धां श्व॒ तीव्रान् न सेहिरे तव पुत्रस्य नागा:
cakre vāyuḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāś ca śvapadā vyāharan | gajendrāṇāṃ madagandhāṃś ca tīvrān na sehire tava putrasya nāgāḥ ||
Dijo Sañjaya: El viento soplaba desde atrás de los Pāṇḍavas, mientras que del lado kaurava las bestias salvajes lanzaban gritos de mal agüero. Y los elefantes del ejército de tu hijo no podían soportar el olor penetrante y avasallador del celo de los grandes elefantes del bando pāṇḍava.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how nature and battlefield omens are read as indicators of moral and strategic momentum: favorable conditions align with the side perceived as more righteous, while fear and disorder appear among the opposing forces.
Sañjaya reports signs on the battlefield: the wind supports the Pāṇḍavas from behind, ominous cries arise among the Kaurava side, and Duryodhana’s elephants are unsettled and unable to bear the intense must-scent of powerful elephants—suggesting disadvantage for the Kauravas.