Shloka 23
रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield
तस्य सूतो महाराज रथस्थो5शोभयद् रथम् । स तेन संवृतो वीरो रथेनामित्रकर्षण:
tasya sūto mahārāja rathastho 'śobhayad ratham | sa tena saṁvṛto vīro rathenāmitrakarṣaṇaḥ ||
ਸੰਜਯ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਮਹਾਰਾਜ! ਉਸ ਦਾ ਸਾਰਥੀ ਰਥ ਉੱਤੇ ਖੜ੍ਹਾ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਕੌਸ਼ਲ ਨਾਲ ਉਸ ਰਥ ਨੂੰ ਚਮਕਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ। ਉਸ ਰਥ ਦੀ ਓਟ ਅਤੇ ਸਹਾਰੇ ਨਾਲ, ਸ਼ਤ੍ਰੂ-ਦਮਨ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਉਹ ਵੀਰ ਅੱਗੇ ਵਧਿਆ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that victory and valor in war are not only personal traits of the warrior but also depend on disciplined support—especially the charioteer and the well-prepared chariot. It implicitly affirms kṣatriya-dharma: competence, readiness, and coordinated roles in a righteous (duty-bound) battle setting.
Sañjaya describes a warrior whose charioteer, standing on the chariot, makes it appear splendid and battle-ready. The hero, protected and framed by that chariot, proceeds as an enemy-subduer—emphasizing the chariot as both weapon-platform and shield.