Shloka 76
Adhyāya 78 — Bhīṣma’s Advance, Duryodhana’s Rally, and Concurrent Duels (भीष्मस्याभ्युद्यमः, दुर्योधनस्योत्साहवचनम्, विविधयुद्धवर्णनम्)
सात्यकिर्धर्मराजश्च व्यूहग्रीवां समास्थिता: । महाराज! महाबली भीमसेन उसके मुखकी जगह खड़े हुए। सुभद्राकुमार अभिमन्यु, द्रौपदीके पाँच पुत्र, राक्षस घटोत्कच, सात्यकि और धर्मराज युधिष्ठिर--ये उस मकरव्यूहके ग्रीवाभागमें स्थित हुए
sātyakir dharmarājaś ca vyūhagrīvāṃ samāsthitāḥ | mahārāja! mahābalī bhīmasenaḥ tasya mukhasthāne sthitaḥ | subhadrākumāraḥ abhimanyuḥ, draupadyāḥ pañca putrāḥ, rākṣasaḥ ghaṭotkacaḥ, sātyakiḥ ca dharmarājaḥ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ—ete tasya makaravyūhasya grīvābhāge sthitāḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: Sātyaki und König Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharma-rāja) nahmen ihre Stellung am „Hals“ der Schlachtordnung ein. O König, der überaus mächtige Bhīmasena stand dort, wo ihr „Maul“ lag. Abhimanyu, der Sohn Subhadrās; die fünf Söhne Draupadīs; der Rākṣasa Ghaṭotkaca; zusammen mit Sātyaki und dem Dharma-rāja Yudhiṣṭhira—sie alle wurden im Halsbereich jener Makara-Formation aufgestellt. Die Stelle betont die disziplinierte Koordination im Krieg: Stärke an der Front, und verantwortliche Führung am entscheidenden Verbindungspunkt des Heeresaufgebots.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in warfare, dharma expresses itself as disciplined order, appropriate placement of strength, and accountable leadership. The verse highlights that power (Bhīma) is positioned to strike and protect at the front, while righteous leadership (Yudhiṣṭhira as Dharmarāja) holds a crucial structural point, implying responsibility rather than mere authority.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the Pāṇḍava deployment against a Makara-shaped battle array. Bhīma takes the ‘mouth’ (front) position, while Sātyaki, Yudhiṣṭhira, Abhimanyu, Draupadī’s five sons, and Ghaṭotkaca are stationed in the ‘neck’ section of the formation.