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Shloka 21

कृप-अर्जुन रथयुद्धम्

Kṛpa–Arjuna Chariot Engagement

भीष्म: प्रस्थाप्य राजानं गोधनं तदनन्तरम्‌ । सेनामुख्यान्‌ व्यवस्थाप्य व्यूहितुं सम्प्रचक्रमे,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! महात्मा भीष्मकी कही हुई यह बात सबको पसंद आ गयी। फिर कौरवोंके राजा दुर्योधनने वैसा ही किया। पहले राजा दुर्योधनको और उसके बाद गोधनको भेजकर सेनापतियोंको व्यवस्थित करके भीष्मजीने सेनाका व्यूह बनानेकी तैयारी की

bhīṣmaḥ prasthāpya rājānaṃ godhanaṃ tadanantaram | senāmukhyān vyavasthāpya vyūhituṃ sampracakrame ||

ไวศัมปายนะกล่าวว่า—เมื่อส่งพระราชาไปก่อน แล้วส่งโคทรัพย์ตามไปโดยพลัน ภีษมะได้จัดวางแม่ทัพนายกองให้เป็นระเบียบ และเริ่มเตรียมจัดทัพเป็นกระบวนยุทธ

भीष्मःBhishma
भीष्मः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभीष्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
प्रस्थाप्यhaving sent forth / having dispatched
प्रस्थाप्य:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-स्था (धातु)
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Prior action (having caused to depart/sent forth)
राजानम्the king
राजानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
गोधनम्cattle/wealth of cows
गोधनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगोधन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
तत्that
तत्:
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अनन्तरम्immediately after / thereafter
अनन्तरम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअनन्तर
FormAdverb
सेनामुख्यान्the chiefs/leaders of the army
सेनामुख्यान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसेनामुख्य
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
व्यवस्थाप्यhaving arranged / having stationed
व्यवस्थाप्य:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-अव-स्था (धातु)
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Prior action (having arranged/posted)
व्यूहितुम्to form an array / to arrange (the troops) in formation
व्यूहितुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootव्यूह (धातु: व्यूह्/व्यूहय् in causative usage)
Formतुमुन् (infinitive), Active (usage), Purpose (to arrange in battle-array)
सम्प्रचक्रमेset about / began / proceeded
सम्प्रचक्रमे:
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-प्र-क्रम् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), Ātmanepada, Third, Singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
B
Bhīṣma
D
Duryodhana
K
Kaurava army
G
godhana (cattle-wealth)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the ethic of disciplined leadership: effective action in crisis requires orderly delegation, proper placement of commanders, and strategic planning. Even when the broader enterprise is contentious, the text notes the importance of competence and responsibility in command.

Bhīṣma dispatches the king first and then the cattle, organizes the principal commanders, and begins arranging the Kaurava forces into a battle formation (vyūha) in preparation for the coming confrontation.