Shloka 19

Bhīmasena–Drauṇi Mahāyuddha

Chariot Duel and Astra-Exchange

Devanagari script

अनुपादे तु यो वामस्तत्र शल्यो व्यवस्थित: । महत्या सेनया सार्ध मद्रदेशसमुत्थया,बायें पैरके पिछले भागमें मद्रदेशकी विशाल सेनाके साथ स्वयं राजा शल्य उपस्थित थे

Transliteration

anupāde tu yo vāmas tatra śalyo vyavasthitaḥ | mahatyā senayā sārdhaṃ madradeśa-samutthayā ||

Translation

Санджая сказал: На левом фланге, в заднем положении, был поставлен царь Шалья, вместе с великой ратью, пришедшей из страны Мадра,—расположение, показывающее, как обе стороны намеренно ставили надёжных царей и областные силы, чтобы прикрыть уязвимые места боевого строя.

Word by Word

अनुपादेat the back part of the left foot/flank

तुbut/indeed

यःwhich/where

वामःleft

तत्रthere

शल्यःShalya (the king)

व्यवस्थितःstationed/positioned

महत्याwith a great

सेनयाarmy

सार्धम्together with

मद्रदेशसमुत्थयाarisen from the Madra country

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Śalya

Madra (Madradeśa)

Madra army (Madradeśa-senā)

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 verse highlights disciplined military order and the ethical responsibility of rulers to protect strategic weak points: trusted kings and their regional troops are placed where steadiness and accountability are required, reflecting kṣatriya duty in organized warfare.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the deployment within the battle array: on the left side, toward the rear, King Śalya is stationed with a large contingent from Madra, indicating a deliberate placement of forces to secure that sector.