Shloka 273

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

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 |

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—କୈତବରେ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ମହାରଥୀ ଶକୁନି ସମଗ୍ର ସେନା ସହ ଆଗେଇଲା। ମଧ୍ୟଭାଗରେ କୁରୁକୁଳର ପ୍ରମୁଖ ବୀରମାନଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ ଦୁର୍ଯ୍ୟୋଧନ ଥିଲା; ଶକୁନି ମଧ୍ୟ ବିଶାଳ ଘୋଡ଼ାସୈନ୍ୟରେ ଘେରା ଥିଲା। ତାଙ୍କ ସହ ମହାରଥୀ ଉଲୂକ ମଧ୍ୟ ସମସ୍ତ ସେନା ସହ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ ପାଇଁ ଆଗକୁ ବଢ଼ୁଥିଲା।

Word by Word

प्रययौwent forth, advanced

सर्वसैन्येनwith the entire army

कैतव्यःKaitavya (a proper name/epithet)

महारथःgreat chariot-warrior

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Shakuni

Duryodhana

Ulūka

Kuru dynasty

cavalry (horsemen)

army

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

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.

What is happening in the narrative?

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.