Shloka 12
Sainyavinyāsa–Lakṣaṇa (Disposition of Armies and Battlefield Omens) | सैन्यविन्यास–लक्षणम्
वार्थक्षत्रि: सर्वसैन्यस्य मध्ये भूरिश्रवा: पुरुमित्रो जयश्न । शाल्चा मत्स्या: केकयाश्षेति सर्वे गजानीकैर्भ्रातरो योत्स्यमाना:
sañjaya uvāca | vārthakṣatriḥ sarvasainyasya madhye bhūriśravāḥ purumitro jayaś ca | śālvā matsyāḥ kekayāś ceti sarve gajānīkair bhrātaro yotsyamānāḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : Au cœur même de toute l’armée se tenaient Vārthakṣatri, avec Bhūriśravas, Purumitra et Jaya; et aussi les Śālvas, les Matsyas et tous les Kekayas — des frères rangés avec des divisions d’éléphants, avides d’en découdre. La scène souligne l’ordonnancement réfléchi des forces et la résolution commune des kṣatriya alliés, tandis que l’élan de la guerre se rassemble.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of organized readiness for battle and the collective resolve of allied lineages. Ethically, it frames war as a deliberate, duty-bound undertaking for those who have chosen the warrior path, emphasizing discipline and coordinated action rather than chaos.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the positioning of various allied warriors and peoples—Bhūriśravas, Purumitra, Jaya, and contingents from Śālva, Matsya, and Kekaya—standing in the center of the army with elephant divisions, prepared to fight.