रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्ा भारत शल्यपर्वमें शल्यका सेनापतिके पदपर अभिषेकाविषयक सातवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,ततः सर्वे समागम्य पुत्रेण तव सैनिका: । कृपश्च कृतवर्मा च द्रौणि: शल्योडथ सौबल:
tataḥ sarve samāgamya putreṇa tava sainikāḥ | kṛpaś ca kṛtavarmā ca drauṇiḥ śalyaḥ atha saubalaḥ ||
അതിനുശേഷം നിന്റെ പുത്രനോടുകൂടെ നിന്റെ സൈനികർ എല്ലാവരും ഒന്നിച്ചു കൂടി; അവരിൽ കൃപൻ, കൃതവർമ്മൻ, ദ്രോണപുത്രൻ അശ്വത്ഥാമാവ്, ശല്യൻ, സൗബലൻ (ശകുനി) എന്നിവരും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു।
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how collective resolve and leadership structures can sustain a course of action—even a destructive one. Ethically, it invites reflection on responsibility: when eminent elders and allies rally around a leader, their support amplifies the consequences of continuing adharma-driven conflict.
After the developments concerning Śalya’s command, the principal Kaurava warriors assemble together with Duryodhana. The verse lists key figures—Kṛpa, Kṛtavarmā, Aśvatthāmā, Śalya, and Śakuni—signaling a strategic regrouping of the Kaurava leadership.