Shloka 20

भीष्मसेनासंनिवेशः — Bhīṣma’s Mobilization, Omens, and the Kaurava Array

Devanagari script

स तु गोवासन: शैब्य: सहित: सर्वराजभि: । ययौ मातड्राजेन राजार्हेण पताकिना । पद्मवर्णस्त्वनीकानां सर्वेषामग्रत: स्थित:

Transliteration

sa tu govāsanaḥ śaibyaḥ sahitaḥ sarvarājabhiḥ | yayau mātaḍrājena rājārheṇa patākinā | padmavarṇas tv anīkānāṃ sarveṣām agrataḥ sthitaḥ ||

Translation

గోవాసనము (గోచర్మవస్త్రము) ధరించిన శైబ్యుడు సమస్త రాజులతో కలిసి ముందుకు సాగాడు; రాజోచిత గౌరవానికి పాత్రుడైన ధ్వజధారి మాతడ్రాజుడు అతనితో కూడ వచ్చాడు. పద్మవర్ణ కాంతితో అతడు సమస్త వ్యూహాల ముందుభాగంలో నిలిచాడు.

Word by Word

सःhe

तुbut/indeed

गोवासनःwearing a cow-hide (garment)

शैब्यःŚaibya (proper name)

सहितःaccompanied (together)

सर्वराजभिःby/with all the kings

ययौwent

मातट्-राजेनwith the Mātaṭa-king (proper name/epithet)

राजार्हेणworthy of a king / kingly

पताकिनाwith a banner/standard

पद्मवर्णःlotus-colored

तुand/indeed

अनीकानाम्of the armies/hosts

सर्वेषाम्of all

अग्रतःin front/ahead

स्थितःstanding/placed

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Śaibya

Mātaḍrāja

sarvarāja (the assembled kings)

patākā (banner/standard)

anīka (army formations)

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 the ethical ideal of disciplined leadership in war: a commander or leading warrior stands at the forefront, visibly bearing responsibility, supported by allies and proper insignia of duty (banner/standard), emphasizing order, courage, and accountability amid conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a warrior-king named Śaibya advancing with the assembled kings. He is accompanied by Mātaḍrāja, who carries a banner and is described as worthy of royal honor. Śaibya, lotus-hued, is positioned at the very front of the army formations as the forces move into battle.