Shloka 23
रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield
तस्य सूतो महाराज रथस्थो5शोभयद् रथम् । स तेन संवृतो वीरो रथेनामित्रकर्षण:
tasya sūto mahārāja rathastho 'śobhayad ratham | sa tena saṁvṛto vīro rathenāmitrakarṣaṇaḥ ||
サञ्जयは言った。「大王よ、彼の御者は戦車の上に立ち、その技と備えによって戦車を輝かせた。その戦車に守られ支えられて、敵を屈する英雄は進み出る——車戦の整然たる規律のうちに、護り、操り、そして義務が、戦場の暴威のただ中で一つに結び合わされるのだ。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that victory and valor in war are not only personal traits of the warrior but also depend on disciplined support—especially the charioteer and the well-prepared chariot. It implicitly affirms kṣatriya-dharma: competence, readiness, and coordinated roles in a righteous (duty-bound) battle setting.
Sañjaya describes a warrior whose charioteer, standing on the chariot, makes it appear splendid and battle-ready. The hero, protected and framed by that chariot, proceeds as an enemy-subduer—emphasizing the chariot as both weapon-platform and shield.