Shloka 5
अनीकव्यूहप्रतिव्यूहः
Counter-deployment of Divisions and the Opening Tumult
महेन्द्रयानप्रतिमं रथं तु सोपस्करं हाटकरत्नचित्रम् । युधिष्ठिर: काउ्चनभाण्डयोक्त्रं समास्थितो नागपुरस्य मध्ये
sañjaya uvāca |
mahendrāyānapratimaṃ rathaṃ tu sopaskaraṃ hāṭakaratnacitram |
yudhiṣṭhiraḥ kāñcanabhāṇḍayoktraṃ samāsthito nāgapurasya madhye ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର ମହେନ୍ଦ୍ର (ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର)ଙ୍କ ରଥ ସମାନ ଏକ ଅତି ଭବ୍ୟ ରଥରେ ଆରୋହଣ କଲେ। ସେ ରଥ ସମସ୍ତ ଆବଶ୍ୟକ ଉପକରଣରେ ସୁସଜ୍ଜିତ ଥିଲା ଏବଂ ସୁବର୍ଣ୍ଣ-ରତ୍ନର ବିଚିତ୍ର ଅଳଙ୍କାରରେ ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ ହେଉଥିଲା। ସୁବର୍ଣ୍ଣ ପାତ୍ର ଓ ଯୋକ୍ତ୍ର-ରଜ୍ଜୁ ସହିତ ସଜ୍ଜିତ ହୋଇ, ସେ ଗଜସେନାର ମଧ୍ୟରେ, ନଗରମଧ୍ୟଭାଗରେ, ରାଜୋଚିତ ଶୃଙ୍ଖଳାରେ ଅବସ୍ଥିତ ରହିଲେ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya preparedness and orderly leadership: even amid impending violence, the king’s role is to maintain discipline, readiness, and responsibility. The emphasis on a fully equipped chariot symbolizes competence and foresight—ethical governance expressed through careful preparation rather than rashness.
Sañjaya describes Yudhiṣṭhira taking his position for battle. He mounts an exceptionally splendid, well-equipped chariot—likened to Indra’s—and stands amid the elephant contingent, indicating the Pāṇḍava army’s arrangement and the king’s visible presence among key divisions.