Shloka 13

भीष्मस्य मण्डलव्यूहः — Bhīṣma’s Maṇḍala Battle-Formation and the Opening Engagements

Devanagari script

समासाद्य महेष्वासं भूरिश्रवसमाहवे । ऊचुः सर्वे सुसंरब्धा यूपकेतुं महारणे,सात्यकिके दस महाबलवानू पुत्र थे। उनके कवच, आयुध और ध्वज सभी विचित्र थे। वे सब-के-सब महारथी कहे जाते थे। वे युद्धस्थलमें यूपचिह्वलित ध्वजवाले महारथी भूरिश्रवाको देखकर उसके पास आये और अत्यन्त क्रोधपूर्वक उससे इस प्रकार बोले --

Transliteration

samāsādya maheṣvāsaṃ bhūriśravasam āhave | ūcuḥ sarve susaṃrabdhā yūpaketuṃ mahāraṇe ||

Translation

サञ्जयは語った。戦場にて大弓の使い手ブーリシュラヴァスに近づくと、彼らは皆、激しい憤りに燃え、大戦のただ中でユーパケートゥに向かって言葉を発した。

Word by Word

समासाद्यhaving approached

महेष्वासम्the great archer

भूरिश्रवसम्Bhūriśravas

आहवेin battle

ऊचुःsaid/spoke

सर्वेall (of them)

सुसंरब्धाःhighly enraged/agitated

यूपकेतुम्the one with a yūpa-like banner/standard (Yūpaketu)

महारणेin the great battle

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhūriśravas

Yūpaketu

battlefield (āhava/mahāraṇa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how anger (krodha) rapidly intensifies conflict: warriors, already inflamed, close in and speak from agitation. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, such rage can cloud discernment and push combatants toward actions that later appear adharma or regrettable.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a group of warriors advances toward the great archer Bhūriśravas in the thick of battle and, in a state of heightened fury, begins addressing Yūpaketu—setting up the next lines where their words and challenge are stated.