Shloka 3
सैन्यसंनिवेशः (Sainyasaṃniveśaḥ) — Deployment, Omens, and Yuddha-Dharma Conventions
तेडवतीर्य कुरुक्षेत्र पाण्डवा: सहसोमका: । कौरवा: समवर्तन्त जिगीषन्तो महाबला:,सोमकोंसहित पाण्डव तथा कौरव दोनों महाबली थे। वे एक-दूसरेको जीतनेकी आशासे कुरक्षेत्रमें उतरकर आमने-सामने डटे हुए थे
te 'vatīrya kurukṣetre pāṇḍavāḥ saha-somakāḥ | kauravāḥ samavartanta jigīṣanto mahābalāḥ ||
Having descended onto the field of Kurukṣetra, the Pāṇḍavas—together with the Somakas—took their positions. The Kauravas too, mighty in strength, arrayed themselves opposite, each side intent on victory. Thus, driven by the resolve to conquer, the two armies stood face to face on the ground where dharma itself would be tested through war.
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the war as a deliberate human undertaking—both sides consciously enter Kurukṣetra seeking victory—thereby foregrounding the ethical tension of dharma in conflict: strength and ambition are present on both sides, and the coming events will test right conduct amid the pursuit of conquest.
Vaiśaṃpāyana reports that the Pāṇḍavas, accompanied by the Somakas, have entered Kurukṣetra and taken their battle formation; the Kauravas likewise form up opposite them. Both armies stand facing each other, intent on winning.