Shloka 28
रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield
Devanagari script
पाण्डवाश्च महेष्वासा व्यूह्य् सैन्यमरिंदमा:
Transliteration
pāṇḍavāś ca maheṣvāsā vyūhya sainyam ariṃdamāḥ
Translation
三阇耶说道：般度五子——强弓劲射、能制伏仇敌者——整肃军旅，列成战阵，以严整的决意迎候将至的交锋。此句亦示战争之伦理重负：纵在杀伐之中，秩序、谋略与责任仍主宰行动。
Word by Word
पाण्डवाःthe Pandavas
पाण्डवाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपाण्डव
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
महेष्वासाःgreat archers
महेष्वासाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमहेष्वास
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
व्यूह्यhaving arrayed (having formed into a battle-formation)
व्यूह्य:
TypeVerb
Rootव्यूह्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)
सैन्यम्the army
सैन्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसैन्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अरिंदमाःfoe-subduers
अरिंदमाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअरिंदम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
P
Pāṇḍavāḥ (the Pāṇḍavas)S
Sainyam (army/troops)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Even in war, righteous conduct emphasizes disciplined preparation, clear command, and responsible use of force; the warriors are praised not merely for aggression but for controlled, strategic action aligned with kṣatriya duty.
Sañjaya reports that the Pāṇḍavas, renowned as great archers, organize their troops into a formal battle array (vyūha), signaling readiness for the next phase of combat in the Śalya Parva.