Shloka 12

Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Kaurava-Aligned Mahārathas

Warrior Roster and Motivations

Devanagari script

यथोद्दिष्टानि सैन्यानि पाण्डवानामयोजयत्‌ | जयाय पाण्बुपुत्राणां यत्तस्तस्थौ रणाजिरे

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | yathoddiṣṭāni sainyāni pāṇḍavānām ayojayat | jayāya pāṇḍuputrāṇāṁ yattas tasthau raṇājire ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：依先前所示，德里什塔杜牟那如法布置般度族诸军成适当战阵，并将各部安置于其岗位。怀着对战争的坚定决心，志在成就般度之子之胜利，他们全副武装，立于战场待命。

Word by Word

• यथा: as, according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• उद्दिष्टानि: indicated, specified
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्दिष्ट
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• सैन्यानि: armies, troops
• सैन्यानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• पाण्डवानाम्: of the Pāṇḍavas
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अयोजयत्: arranged, deployed (caused to be yoked/arrayed)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (योजयति)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, true

• जयाय: for victory
• जयाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• पाण्डुपुत्राणाम्: of the sons of Pāṇḍu
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डुपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• यत्तः: striving, exerting himself
• यत्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तस्थौ: stood
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• रणाजिरे: in the battlefield
• रणाजिरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रणाजिर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pāṇḍavas
• Pāṇḍuputras (sons of Pāṇḍu)
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• Raṇājira (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined preparation and leadership in a righteous cause: victory is pursued not by impulse but through orderly organization, adherence to instruction, and steadfast resolve—qualities aligned with kṣātra-dharma (the warrior’s duty).

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Dhṛṣṭadyumna, acting on prior plans, arranges the Pāṇḍava forces into proper formations and stations them for combat; the warriors then stand armed on the battlefield, determined to win for the sons of Pāṇḍu.