Shloka 55
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय 54: फल्गुन-प्रतिरोधः, सौबली-व्यूह-विध्वंसः, दुर्योधन-भीष्म-संवादः
पक्षकोटिप्रपक्षेषु पक्षान्तेषु च वारणा:
pakṣakoṭiprapakṣeṣu pakṣānteṣu ca vāraṇāḥ
সঞ্জয় বললেন—হস্তিগণকে ডানার পার্শ্ব ও প্রতিপার্শ্বে, এবং ডানার প্রান্তভাগেও স্থাপন করা হয়েছিল—যাতে যুদ্ধরেখা স্থির থাকে এবং হঠাৎ ভেদ রোধ হয়।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined organization in warfare: strength (elephants) is placed where lines are most vulnerable—on flanks and wing-ends—showing that power must be guided by structure and foresight rather than mere aggression.
Sañjaya is reporting battlefield dispositions: elephants are deployed on the wings, counter-wings, and at the ends of the formation to protect the army’s sides and prevent encirclement or sudden enemy penetration.