Shloka 23
Saṃśaptakas in Candrārdha-vyūha; Arjuna’s Devadatta and the Traigarta Rout
Chapter 17
ते च बद्धतनुत्राणा घृताक्ता: कुशचीरिण: । मौर्वीमेखलिनो वीरा: सहस्रशतदक्षिणा:,कवच बाँधकर कुश-चीर धारण कर लेनेके पश्चात् उन्होंने अपने अंगोंमें घी लगाया और “मौर्वी” नामक तृणविशेषकी बनी हुई मेखला धारण की। वे सभी वीर पहले यज्ञ करके लाखों स्वर्ण-मुद्राएँ दक्षिणामें बाँट चुके थे
te ca baddha-tanutrāṇā ghṛtāktāḥ kuśa-cīriṇaḥ | maurvī-mekhalino vīrāḥ sahasra-śata-dakṣiṇāḥ ||
Sanjaya berkata: Setelah mengikat kemas perisai dan mengenakan pakaian rumput kuśa, para wira itu menyapu tubuh mereka dengan ghee dan mengikat pinggang dengan tali daripada rumput yang disebut maurvī. Para pahlawan itu telah pun melaksanakan korban suci dan mengagihkan anugerah besar sebagai dakṣiṇā (upah korban).
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links martial action to ritual discipline and ethical giving: the warriors’ readiness for battle is framed by purification (ghṛta-anointing), sacred attire (kuśa, maurvī), and prior generosity through yajña and dakṣiṇā—suggesting that power and violence are ideally restrained and legitimized by dharmic observance and dāna.
Sañjaya describes a group of heroes making solemn preparations: they secure their armor, adopt ritual grass garments and girdles, anoint themselves with ghee, and are characterized as men who have already conducted sacrifices and given abundant sacrificial fees—portraying them as ritually fortified and socially sanctioned combatants.