Shloka 233
रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield
तस्थौ शूरो महाराज पुत्राणां ते भयप्रणुत् राजाधिराज! शल्यके रथपर बैठा हुआ उनका सारथि उस रथकी शोभा बढ़ा रहा था। उस रथसे घिरे हुए शत्रुसूदन शूरवीर राजा शल्य आपके पुत्रोंका भय दूर करते हुए युद्धके लिये खड़े हो गये
sañjaya uvāca | tasthau śūro mahārāja putrāṇāṃ te bhaya-praṇut | rājādhirāja śalyake ratha-pari sthitaḥ sa sārathiḥ tasya rathasya śobhāṃ vardhayām āsa | tena rathena parivṛtaḥ śatru-sūdanaḥ śūra-vīro rājā śalyaḥ tava putrāṇāṃ bhayaṃ praṇudya yuddhāya tasthau ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai raja agung, pahlawan Śalya berdiri siap untuk perang, menghalau ketakutan putera-puteramu. Kusirnya, yang duduk di atas kereta Śalya, menambah seri dan keagungan kereta itu. Dilindungi dan diserlahkan oleh kereta tersebut, Raja Śalya—pembinasa musuh yang gagah—mengambil tempatnya untuk bertempur, mengusir gementar yang mencengkam putera-puteramu.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya leadership in crisis: a commander’s duty is not only to fight but to steady allies by dispelling fear, embodying resolve and responsibility amid the moral weight of war.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that King Śalya, with his chariot and charioteer adding to the martial display, takes his battle position and reassures the Kaurava princes by driving away their fear.