Shloka 28

रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield

Devanagari script

पाण्डवाश्च महेष्वासा व्यूह्य्‌ सैन्यमरिंदमा:

Transliteration

pāṇḍavāś ca maheṣvāsā vyūhya sainyam ariṃdamāḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: The Pāṇḍavas—mighty archers and subduers of foes—drew up their forces in battle formation, preparing with disciplined resolve for the coming clash. The line underscores the ethical weight of war: even amid violence, order, strategy, and responsibility govern action.

Word by Word

• पाण्डवाः: the Pandavas
• पाण्डवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• महेष्वासाः: great archers
• महेष्वासाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• व्यूह्य: having arrayed (having formed into a battle-formation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यूह्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• सैन्यम्: the army
• सैन्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अरिंदमाः: foe-subduers
• अरिंदमाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरिंदम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Pāṇḍavāḥ (the Pāṇḍavas)
• Sainyam (army/troops)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in war, righteous conduct emphasizes disciplined preparation, clear command, and responsible use of force; the warriors are praised not merely for aggression but for controlled, strategic action aligned with kṣatriya duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the Pāṇḍavas, renowned as great archers, organize their troops into a formal battle array (vyūha), signaling readiness for the next phase of combat in the Śalya Parva.