Shloka 40
Yuddha-yajña-vyākhyāna (The Battle as Sacrifice): Ambarīṣa–Indra Saṃvāda
सास्य वेदिस्तदा यज्ञै्नित्यं वेदास्त्रयो5ग्नय: । जब अपनी सेना तथा शत्रुसेना एक-दूसरेके सामने व्यूह बनाकर उपस्थित होती है
sāsya vedis tadā yajnaiḥ nityaṃ vedās trayo 'gnayaḥ | yastu yodhaḥ parāvṛttaḥ saṃtrasto hanyate paraiḥ ||
Sinabi ni Ambarīṣa: “Kapag ang sariling hukbo at ang hukbo ng kaaway ay nakahanay na magkaharap, kung gayon para sa mandirigmang sa unahan ay tanging hungkag na langit na walang tao ang natitira, ang hungkag na iyon mismo ang vedi—ang altar—ng kanyang ‘yajña ng digmaan’. Doon, wari’y laging isinasagawa ang sakripisyo, at ang tatlong Veda at ang tatlong banal na apoy ay nananatiling nakatatag. Ngunit ang mandirigmang tatalikod sa takot ay tatamaan at mapapatay ng kaaway.”
अम्बरीष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames righteous battle (for a kṣatriya) as a solemn sacrifice: the warrior’s forward-facing space is his altar, and steadfastness is demanded. Retreat born of fear is condemned, implying that courage and duty sustain dharma, while panic and turning back lead to ruin.
Ambarīṣa describes the moment when armies stand in formation facing each other. He uses yajña imagery—altar, Vedas, and fires—to sacralize the warrior’s stance at the front, then contrasts it with the fate of a frightened fighter who turns back and is killed by the enemy.