रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield
धृष्टद्युम्न: शिखण्डी च सात्यकिश्व॒ महारथ:
dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca sātyakiś ca mahārathaḥ
Sañjaya berkata: “Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Śikhaṇḍī, dan Sātyaki—masing-masing seorang mahāratha, pahlawan kereta perang agung—(maju/menonjol berdiri).” Baris ini menonjolkan sandaran pihak Pāṇḍava pada juara yang terbukti dalam keganasan perang, apabila keperkasaan peribadi sentiasa digerakkan demi tuntutan tertib dharma yang dipertikaikan.
संजय उवाच
The verse underscores how, in the moral chaos of war, responsibility is carried by recognized leaders and elite warriors; their prowess is not merely personal glory but a burden of duty undertaken for their side’s perceived dharma.
Sañjaya names key Pāṇḍava champions—Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Śikhaṇḍī, and Sātyaki—identifying them as mahārathas, typically as part of a battlefield roll-call describing who is present, advancing, or taking position in the fighting.