Shloka 14
के पृष्ठतश्नाप्पयभवन् वीरा वीरान् विनिध्नतः । के पुरस्तादगच्छन्त निध्नन्तः शात्रवान् रणे,कौन-कौन-से योद्धा द्रोणाचार्यके रथके दाहिने पहियेकी रक्षा करते थे और कौन-कौन- से बायें पहियेकी? कौन-कौन-से वीर वीरोंका वध करनेवाले द्रोणाचार्यके पृष्ठभागके रक्षक थे और रणमें शत्रुसैनिकोंका संहार करनेवाले कौन-कौन-से योद्धा आचार्यके आगे-आगे चलते थे?
sañjaya uvāca | ke pṛṣṭhataḥ nāppayabhavan vīrā vīrān vinighnataḥ | ke purastād agacchanta nighnantaḥ śātravān raṇe |
Sañjaya sprach: Welche Helden bewachten das Heck von Droṇas Streitwagen—jene mächtigen Männer, die mächtige Gegner niederstreckten? Welche Krieger zogen vor dem Lehrmeister her, drangen in die Schlacht vor und metzelten das feindliche Heer nieder? (Und ebenso: Wer schützte das rechte Rad und wer das linke Rad von Droṇas Wagen?)
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the battlefield ethic of disciplined protection around a key commander: coordinated roles (front, rear, flanks/wheels) sustain an army’s effectiveness. It highlights how individual valor is meant to serve collective order and strategic duty rather than isolated aggression.
Sañjaya is describing (and Dhṛtarāṣṭra is implicitly asking to hear) the arrangement around Droṇa in combat—who marched ahead clearing enemies, who guarded the rear, and (as indicated in the accompanying gloss) who protected the right and left sides/wheels of Droṇa’s chariot.