Shloka 17
Bhīmasena–Drauṇi Mahāyuddha
Chariot Duel and Astra-Exchange
वामपादे तु राजेन्द्र कृतवर्मा व्यवस्थित: । नारायणबलैयक्तो गोपालैरयुद्धदुर्मदै:,राजेन्द्र! उस मकरव्यूहके बायें पैरकी जगह नारायणी-सेनाके रणदुर्मद गोपालोंके साथ कृतवर्मा खड़ा किया गया था
vāmapāde tu rājendra kṛtavarmā vyavasthitaḥ | nārāyaṇabalaiyukto gopālair ayuddhadurmadāḥ ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: “O hari, sa ‘kaliwang paa’ ng pormasyong iyon ay inilagay si Kṛtavarmā, na sinusuportahan ng lakas ng Nārāyaṇa—mga mandirigmang pastol ng baka na lasing sa pagmamataas ng labanan.” Ipinakikita ng pagkakalagay na ito kung gaano kasinop ang pag-aayos ng mga pinuno: isang mabangis at tapat na pangkat ang itinalaga upang bantayan ang mahalagang tagiliran sa karahasang may bigat ng paghatol sa tama at mali.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined deployment of power in war and hints at the ethical tension of martial pride: even formidable, devoted troops can become ‘durmada’—overconfident—showing how strategy and inner disposition together shape the moral texture of battle.
Sañjaya reports to the king that Kṛtavarmā has been placed on the left flank (the ‘left foot’) of the battle-array, accompanied by the Nārāyaṇa force—cowherd-warriors renowned for their battle-fervor—indicating a deliberate guarding of a key side of the formation.