Shloka 21

Vāg-yuddha and Nimitta-darśana before the Gadāyuddha

Verbal Duel and Omens

Devanagari script

रणमण्डलमध्यस्थौ भ्रातरौ तौ नरर्षभौ

Transliteration

raṇamaṇḍalamadhyasthau bhrātarau tau nararṣabhau

Translation

Dijo Sañjaya: En pleno centro del círculo de batalla se hallaban aquellos dos hermanos, toros entre los hombres, firmes en el corazón de la refriega.

Word by Word

• रणमण्डलमध्यस्थौ: standing in the middle of the battle-circle
• रणमण्डलमध्यस्थौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रण-मण्डल-मध्य-स्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• भ्रातरौ: two brothers
• भ्रातरौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• नरर्षभौ: two bulls among men (best of men)
• नरर्षभौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर-ऋषभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• two brothers (unnamed in this half-verse)
• raṇamaṇḍala (battlefield/battle-array center)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its starkest form: steadfastness in the center of danger and loyalty to one’s role and kin, even when war turns familial bonds into a test of resolve and righteousness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes two brother-warriors positioned in the middle of the battle formation/arena, emphasizing their prominence and courage as the fighting intensifies around them.