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Shloka 20

भीमसेन-दुर्योधन-समागमः

Bhīmasena–Duryodhana Engagement at Sunset

रथसड्घा नरव्याप्रा: समायान्तश्न संयुगे । विरेजु: समरे राजन्‌ ग्रहा इव नभस्तले,राजन! रथोंके समूह और नरश्रेष्ठ नरेशगण युद्धमें आते हुए उसी प्रकार शोभा पा रहे थे, जैसे आकाशमें ग्रह-नक्षत्र सुशोभित होते हैं

rathasaṅghā naravyāprāḥ samāyāntaś ca saṃyuge | virejuḥ samare rājan grahā iva nabhastale ||

Sañjaya thưa: Muôn tâu Đại vương, khi trận chiến sắp giao hội, những đội hình chiến xa dày đặc cùng các bậc nam nhi ưu tú—những vua chiến binh—tiến vào cuộc giao tranh. Trên chiến địa ấy, họ tỏa một vẻ huy hoàng đáng sợ, như các hành tinh và tinh tú điểm trang vòm trời.

रथसङ्घाःgroups of chariots
रथसङ्घाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootरथसङ्घ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
नरव्याघ्राःtiger-like men (best of men)
नरव्याघ्राः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनरव्याघ्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
समायान्तःcoming together/approaching
समायान्तः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-आ-या
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural, शतृ (present active participle)
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
संयुगेin battle
संयुगे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसंयुग
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
विरेजुःshone/appeared splendid
विरेजुः:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-राज्
FormPerfect (लिट्), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
समरेin the battle
समरे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसमर
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
राजन्O king
राजन्:
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
ग्रहाःplanets (luminaries)
ग्रहाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootग्रह
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
इवlike/as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
नभस्तलेon the surface of the sky
नभस्तले:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootनभस्तल
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra
C
chariot-hosts (rathasaṅghāḥ)
W
warrior-kings/foremost men (narāḥ)
C
celestial bodies (grahāḥ)
S
sky/firmament (nabhastala)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how war can appear outwardly magnificent—like the ordered beauty of the heavens—yet it remains a human clash driven by royal ambition and martial duty. It invites reflection on the contrast between aesthetic splendor and the grave ethical weight of battle.

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the chariot formations and leading warriors are advancing into combat. Their assembled forces glitter on the battlefield, compared poetically to planets and stars shining in the sky.