Shloka 23

कर्णस्य सेनापत्यं, माकरव्यूहः, पाण्डवानामर्धचन्द्रव्यूहः

Karna’s Command; Mākara Formation; Pandava Crescent Counter-Array

Devanagari script

एतैश्न मुख्यैरपरैश्न राजन्‌ योधप्रवीरैरमितप्रभावै: । व्यवस्थितो नागकुलस्य मध्ये यथा महेन्द्र: कुराराजो जयाय

Transliteration

etaiś ca mukhyair aparaiś ca rājan yodha-pravīrair amita-prabhāvaiḥ | vyavasthito nāga-kulasya madhye yathā mahendraḥ kururājo jayāya, rājan ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, dikelilingi oleh para wira terkemuka ini dan oleh juara-juara perang lain yang kekuatannya tiada terukur, raja Kuru, Duryodhana, berdiri bersiap untuk kemenangan—laksana Mahendra (Indra) tegak di tengah kawanan gajah.”

Word by Word

• एतैः: by these
• एतैः: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• मुख्यैः: by the chief/primary (ones)
• मुख्यैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अपरैः: by other (ones)
• अपरैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• योध-प्रवीरैः: by foremost heroes among warriors
• योध-प्रवीरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: योधप्रवीर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अमित-प्रभावैः: by (those) of immeasurable might
• अमित-प्रभावैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमितप्रभाव
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• व्यवस्थितः: standing/posted, stationed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यवस्था
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नाग-कुलस्य: of the herd/group of elephants
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागकुल
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• मध्ये: in the midst
• मध्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्य

• यथा: as, like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• महेन्द्रः: Mahendra (Indra)
• महेन्द्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कुरु-राजः: the king of the Kurus (Duryodhana)
• कुरु-राजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुराज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जयाय: for victory
• जयाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Duryodhana
• Mahendra (Indra)
• Kuru kingdom/lineage
• Elephants (nāga-kula)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how power and confidence in war are amplified by strong allies and disciplined positioning; it also subtly warns that outward majesty—likened to Indra—does not by itself guarantee righteousness, only the drive for victory.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Duryodhana, surrounded by leading and other mighty warriors, stands firmly arranged for battle, appearing formidable like Indra amid a herd of elephants.