Shloka 2
Śalya Installed as Commander; Coalition Agreement and Battle Arrays (शल्यसेनापत्यारोहणं व्यूहवर्णनं च)
दुर्योधन महाबाहो शृणु वाक््यविदां वर । यावेतौ मन्यसे कृष्णौ रथस्थौ रथिनां वरौ
duryodhana mahābāho śṛṇu vākyavidāṃ vara | yāvetau manyase kṛṣṇau rathasthau rathināṃ varau ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Duryodhana, yang berlengan perkasa, yang terbaik antara mereka yang mahir bertutur—dengarlah. Tentang dua ‘Krishna’ ini yang engkau anggap paling unggul antara para pahlawan berkereta, yang berdiri di atas kereta…”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds how judgment in war is shaped by perception and rhetoric: Sañjaya addresses Duryodhana respectfully yet prepares to challenge or refine his assessment of formidable figures (‘the two Krishnas’), implying that pride and misreading opponents can distort strategic and ethical discernment.
Sañjaya begins a direct address to Duryodhana, urging him to listen. He introduces ‘these two Krishnas’ whom Duryodhana considers the foremost chariot-warriors, setting up a description or evaluation of their stature and role in the unfolding battle context.