Shloka 76
रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield
अन्ये च पार्थिवा: शेषा: समयं चक्कुरादृता: । तदनन्तर आपके सम्पूर्ण सैनिक कृपाचार्य, कृतवर्मा, अश्वत्थामा, शल्य, शकुनि तथा बचे हुए अन्य नरेशोंने राजा दुर्योधनसे मिलकर आदरपूर्वक यह नियम बनाया--
anye ca pārthivāḥ śeṣāḥ samayaṃ cakrur ādarāt | tadanantaraṃ sampūrṇāḥ sainikāḥ kṛpācāryaḥ kṛtavarmā aśvatthāmā śalyaḥ śakuniḥ tathā bace huye anye nareśāḥ rājā duryodhanena saha miltvā ādarapūrvakaṃ ayaṃ niyamaṃ cakruḥ ||
Sañjaya said: The remaining kings also, with due respect, agreed upon a compact. Thereafter, the surviving leaders of the Kaurava host—Kṛpa the preceptor, Kṛtavarmā, Aśvatthāmā, Śalya, Śakuni, and the other kings who were left—met with King Duryodhana and, honoring him, established a rule of conduct for what was to be done next.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid collapse and loss, leaders seek order through agreed rules (samaya/niyama). The verse highlights how collective decision-making and respect for authority are used to impose discipline on a chaotic battlefield—raising ethical questions about whether procedure and loyalty can substitute for righteous purpose (dharma).
After heavy losses, the remaining Kaurava leaders and allied kings assemble with Duryodhana. They respectfully form an agreement and set a rule for the next course of action, indicating a formal war-council decision at a critical moment in the Shalya Parva.