Shloka 27

Devanagari script

विचित्रान्‌ पृतनामध्ये रथमार्गनुदीर्य तौ । अन्योन्यमपसव्यं च कर्तु वीरौ तदेषतु:,वे दोनों वीर सेनाके बीचमें रथके विचित्र पैंतरे प्रकट करते हुए उस समय एक-दूसरेको दायें कर देनेकी चेष्टा करने लगे

Transliteration

vicitrān pṛtanāmadhye rathamārgān udīrya tau | anyonyam apasavyaṃ ca kartuṃ vīrau tad eṣatuḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: In the midst of the armies, the two heroes displayed wondrous chariot-manoeuvres, driving their courses in intricate patterns, each striving to force the other into an inauspicious (leftward) position—seeking tactical advantage amid the righteous yet terrible press of war.

Word by Word

विचित्रान्variegated, wondrous

पृतनामध्येin the midst of the army

रथमार्गम्the chariot-track/way

उदीर्यhaving displayed/raised (performed)

तौthose two

अन्योन्यम्each other

अपसव्यम्to the right (clockwise), rightward

चand

कर्तुम्to do/make

वीरौthe two heroes

तदाthen, at that time

ईषतुःthey attempted/endeavoured

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

two heroes (unnamed)

chariot (ratha)

armies/battle-array (pṛtanā)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how, in dharmic warfare, prowess is not only brute force but disciplined skill and strategic positioning; even amid violence, actions are framed by notions of auspicious/inauspicious conduct (savyāpasavya) and the ethical weight of contest between equals.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that two opposing champions, surrounded by the armies, execute complex chariot movements and counter-movements, each trying to outmaneuver the other by forcing an unfavorable (leftward/apasavya) position.