Shloka 24
रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield
प्रयाणे मद्रराजो5भून्मुखं व्यूहस्य दंशित:
prayāṇe madrarājo 'bhūn mukhaṃ vyūhasya daṃśitaḥ
Санджая сказал: Когда войско двинулось, царь Мадры стал самым остриём боевого построения — словно клык, готовый впиться, — возглавив наступление и воплотив яростную решимость строя.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of assuming responsibility at the most perilous point: true leadership in war is shown by taking the foremost position, strengthening the army’s morale and giving the formation a decisive, disciplined edge.
As the forces move out, Śalya—king of Madra—takes the lead at the front of the Kaurava battle-array. The imagery of a ‘fang’ suggests an aggressive, sharpened vanguard meant to strike first and break the enemy line.