Shloka 1
द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय १८: संशप्तकगणयुद्धे अर्जुनस्यास्त्रप्रयोगः
Drona Parva, Chapter 18: Arjuna’s astra-deployment against the Saṃśaptakas
संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! तदनन्तर संशप्तक योद्धा रथोंद्वारा ही सेनाका चन्द्राकार व्यूह बनाकर समतल प्रदेशमें प्रसन्नतापूर्वक खड़े हो गये
sañjaya uvāca—rājan! tadanantaraṁ saṁśaptaka-yoddhā rathaiḥ senāyāś candrākāraṁ vyūhaṁ kṛtvā samatale pradeśe prasannatayā tiṣṭhanti sma.
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja! Sesudah itu, para pahlawan Saṁśaptaka menyusun bala tentera dengan kereta-kereta perang membentuk formasi bulan sabit, lalu mengambil tempat dengan hati gembira di tanah yang rata.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how collective resolve and tactical organization shape the conduct of war: vow-bound fighters (Saṁśaptakas) deliberately arrange themselves in a specific formation, showing that intention, discipline, and strategy strongly influence outcomes—ethically reminding the listener that war is not random violence but structured action driven by chosen commitments.
After the preceding events, the Saṁśaptaka contingent forms a crescent-shaped battle array using chariots and stands ready on flat terrain, confident and eager for engagement, as Sañjaya reports this to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra.