Shloka 203
कर्णस्य सेनापत्यं, माकरव्यूहः, पाण्डवानामर्धचन्द्रव्यूहः
Karna’s Command; Mākara Formation; Pandava Crescent Counter-Array
व्यवस्थिता योद्धुकामा नराग्रया: प्रहारिणो मानिन: सत्यसंधा: । वीर श्रुतायु
vyavasthitā yoddhukāmā narāgrayāḥ prahāriṇo māninaḥ satyasaṃdhāḥ | vīra śrutāyuḥ dhṛtāyudhaḥ citrāṅgadaś ca vīraś citrasenaś ca—ete sarve prahārakuśalāḥ svābhimāninaḥ satyapratijñā narottamāḥ tava kṛte yuddhāya sajjāḥ sthitāḥ |
Sañjaya berkata: “Telah tersusun dan bernafsu untuk bertempur para insan terunggul itu—mahir melancarkan pukulan, tinggi maruahnya, dan teguh pada kebenaran. Para wira Śrutāyu, Dhṛtāyudha, Citrāṅgada, dan Citrasena yang gagah—semuanya cekap menyerang, menjaga harga diri, serta setia pada sumpah—berdiri siap untuk berperang demi tuanku.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior-ethic where honor (māna) and fidelity to one’s word (satya-saṃdhi, satya-pratijñā) are treated as binding moral forces. Read ethically, it shows how vows and loyalty can powerfully motivate action in war—raising the question of whether steadfastness serves dharma or merely a chosen side.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that several named heroes—Śrutāyu, Dhṛtāyudha, Citrāṅgada, and Citrasena—are already drawn up in battle formation, eager and prepared to fight on his side, described as expert combatants who take pride in honor and keep their pledges.