Shloka 23
रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield
तस्य सूतो महाराज रथस्थो5शोभयद् रथम् । स तेन संवृतो वीरो रथेनामित्रकर्षण:
tasya sūto mahārāja rathastho 'śobhayad ratham | sa tena saṁvṛto vīro rathenāmitrakarṣaṇaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: O dakilang Hari, ang kanyang tagapagmaneho, na nakatayo sa karwahe, ay nagpagningning sa karwahe sa husay at kahandaan. Sa pagkakubli at pagsuporta ng karwaheng iyon, ang bayaning tagapagpabagsak ng kaaway ay sumulong—ang kanyang lakas-pandigma’y nahayag sa maayos na disiplina ng digmaang-karwahe, kung saan nagtatagpo ang pag-iingat, pamamahala, at tungkulin sa gitna ng karahasan ng labanan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that victory and valor in war are not only personal traits of the warrior but also depend on disciplined support—especially the charioteer and the well-prepared chariot. It implicitly affirms kṣatriya-dharma: competence, readiness, and coordinated roles in a righteous (duty-bound) battle setting.
Sañjaya describes a warrior whose charioteer, standing on the chariot, makes it appear splendid and battle-ready. The hero, protected and framed by that chariot, proceeds as an enemy-subduer—emphasizing the chariot as both weapon-platform and shield.