Shloka 11

भीष्म-द्रोणादिभिः पाण्डवसेनाक्षयकाल-निर्णयः | Time-estimates for the depletion of the Pāṇḍava forces

Bhīṣma–Droṇa council

Devanagari script

ते समेत्य यथान्यायं धार्तराष्ट्रा महाबला: । कुरुक्षेत्रस्य पश्चार्थे व्यवातिष्ठन्त दंशिता:,धृतराष्ट्रके वे महाबली पुत्र रणक्षेत्रमें जाकर कवच आदिसे सुसज्जित हो कुरक्षेत्रके पश्चिम भागमें यथोचितरूपसे खड़े हुए

Transliteration

te sametya yathānyāyaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrā mahābalāḥ | kurukṣetrasya paścārthe vyavātiṣṭhanta daṃśitāḥ ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。しかるべき秩序に従って集結した、ドリタラーシュトラの強大なる子らは、甲冑と武具を余すところなく整え、クルクシェートラの西方に陣を敷いて立った。その光景は、戦に臨む規律ある備えを示す。外には整然たる隊列と武の準備が確立されつつ、内にはダルマと王権の正統をめぐる大いなる道義の争いがなお展開してゆくのである。

Word by Word

तेthey

समेत्यhaving assembled / having come together

यथाas / according to

अन्यायम्according to rule/propriety

धार्तराष्ट्राःthe sons/men of Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Kauravas)

महाबलाःmighty/very strong

कुरुक्षेत्रस्यof Kurukṣetra

पश्चात्in the west/behind

अर्थेin the region/part

व्यवातिष्ठन्तstood / took position

दंशिताःarmoured / equipped (with armour etc.)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Dhārtarāṣṭras (Kauravas)

Kurukṣetra

armor (kavaca implied by daṃśitāḥ)

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 that even in an unrighteous or contested cause, participants may display strict external discipline and proper procedure. It invites reflection on the difference between orderly conduct (nīti in practice) and the deeper question of dharma—whether the underlying aim is just.

What is happening in the narrative?

The Kaurava side (Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons and their forces) assembles and, properly arranged and fully armed, takes position on the western part of Kurukṣetra, indicating the formal readiness and deployment of troops before the impending conflict.