Shloka 273
रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield
प्रययौ सर्वसैन्येन कैतव्यश्ष महारथ: । मध्यभागमें कुरुकुलके प्रमुख वीरोंद्वारा सुरक्षित दुर्योधन और घुड़सवारोंकी विशाल सेनासे घिरा हुआ शकुनि भी था। उसके साथ महारथी उलूक भी सम्पूर्ण सेनासहित युद्धके लिये आगे बढ़ रहा था
sañjaya uvāca | prayayau sarvasainyena kaitavyaḥ mahārathaḥ | madhyabhāge kuru-kulasya pramukhavīraiḥ surakṣito duryodhanaḥ, aśvārūḍhānāṃ viśālena sainyena parivṛtaḥ śakuniś ca | tasya saha mahārathī ulūkaḥ api samasta-sainyena yuddhāya agrataḥ pravavre |
Sañjaya berkata: “Shakuni, pahlawan kereta besar yang masyhur dengan tipu dayanya, mara ke hadapan bersama seluruh tenteranya. Di bahagian tengah berdiri Duryodhana, dilindungi oleh wira-wira terkemuka keturunan Kuru; dan Shakuni juga berada di situ, dikepung oleh pasukan berkuda yang sangat besar. Bersamanya, mahāratha Ulūka turut bergerak maju dengan semua tenteranya, mendesak menuju pertempuran.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights a moral contrast: even when a ruler is physically protected by the best warriors, the presence of deceitful leadership and counsel (symbolized by Shakuni as 'kaitavya') can still propel a community deeper into destructive conflict. Strength and protection do not substitute for ethical governance.
Sañjaya describes the Kaurava advance: Shakuni moves forward with his full force; Duryodhana holds the central position guarded by leading Kuru fighters; Shakuni is surrounded by a large cavalry contingent; and Ulūka advances alongside with all his troops, ready for battle.