Shloka 25
रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield
सव्ये5भूत् कृतवर्मा च त्रिगर्ती: परिवारित:,व्यूहके वामभागमें त्रिगर्तोंसे घिरा हुआ कृतवर्मा खड़ा था। दक्षिण पार्श्चमें शकों और यवनोंकी सेनाके साथ कृपाचार्य थे और पृष्ठभागमें काम्बोजोंसे घिरकर अश्व॒त्थामा खड़ा था
savye 'bhūt kṛtavarmā ca trigartīḥ parivāritaḥ | vyūhake vāma-bhāge trigartaiḥ parivāritaḥ kṛtavarmā sthitaḥ | dakṣiṇa-pārśve śaka-yavana-senayā saha kṛpācāryaḥ | pṛṣṭha-bhāge kāmbojaiḥ parivṛto 'śvatthāmā sthitaḥ |
Sañjaya berkata: Di sayap kiri berdiri Kṛtavarmā, dikelilingi kaum Trigarta. Di sayap kanan ialah Kṛpācārya, bersama pasukan Śaka dan Yavana. Dan di bahagian belakang berdiri Aśvatthāmā, dikepung kaum Kāmboja. Demikianlah susunan perang Kaurava ditegakkan: para panglima berpengalaman menjaga kedua-dua sayap dan bahagian belakang, menzahirkan tekad suram untuk mengekalkan perang melalui disiplin formasi dan kekuatan sekutu.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of war as a disciplined, collective undertaking: commanders and allied groups are placed to protect the formation. It underscores how leadership, organization, and alliances can sustain conflict—raising the Mahābhārata’s recurring reflection that martial skill and strategic order do not by themselves guarantee righteousness (dharma), even when performed as kṣatriya duty.
Sañjaya describes the Kaurava troop disposition within a battle-array: Kṛtavarmā holds the left flank with the Trigartas, Kṛpācārya holds the right with Śaka and Yavana forces, and Aśvatthāmā guards the rear surrounded by Kāmbojas.