संजय उवाच
चक्रव्यूहो महाराज आचार्येणाभिकल्पितः ॥
तत्र शक्रोपमाः सर्वे राजानो विनिवेशिताः ॥
संघातो राजपुत्राणां सर्वेषाम् अभवत् तदा ॥
कृताभिसमयाः सर्वे सुवर्णविकृतध्वजाः ॥
रक्ताम्बरधराः सर्वे सर्वे रक्तविभूषणाः ॥
सर्वे रक्तपताकाश् च सर्वे वै हेममालिनः ॥
saṃjaya uvāca
cakravyūho mahārāja ācāryeṇābhikalpitaḥ ||
tatra śakropamāḥ sarve rājāno viniveśitāḥ ||
saṃghāto rājaputrāṇāṃ sarveṣām abhavat tadā ||
kṛtābhisamayāḥ sarve suvarṇavikṛtadhvajāḥ ||
raktāmbaradharāḥ sarve sarve raktavibhūṣaṇāḥ ||
sarve raktapatākāś ca sarve vai hemamālinaḥ ||
The 'wheel' formation, O great sovereign, was arrayed by the teacher; there all the kings, like Indra, were stationed. Then was formed the multitude of all the princes, bound by a pact, with gilded banners, all in crimson garments, with crimson ornaments, with crimson flags, and in golden garlands.
64de9e579f9a · publicado 19 jul 2026, 15:22:09 UTC
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The princes appear in a single attire -- all crimson, in gold, beneath gilded banners, "bound by a pact": unity of color signifies unity of oath and purpose. Crimson -- the color of blood and resolve -- clothes them all, as one vow. It is significant that the fearsome design to destroy the boy is clothed in this solemn, almost festive splendor. The verse teaches that unity of appearance manifests unity of will -- those bound by a common pact merge outwardly into one; that splendor and beauty of formation may serve even an unjust cause without sanctifying it; and that the crimson array of this host, beautiful to see, betrays its own nature -- it is the color of the blood they came to shed, and the solemnity of their formation is the solemnity of an unlawful act being prepared.