Shloka 89
अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
केडरक्षन् दक्षिणं चक्र सूतपुत्रस्य युध्यत: । वाम॑ चक्र ररक्षुर्वा के वा वीरस्य पृष्ठत:,युद्ध करते समय भी वीर सूतपुत्रके दाहिने पहियेकी रक्षा कौन-कौन कर रहे थे? अथवा उसके बायें पहिये या पृष्ठभागकी रक्षामें कौन-कौन वीर नियुक्त थे?
ke rakṣan dakṣiṇaṃ cakraṃ sūtaputrasya yudhyataḥ | vāmaṃ cakraṃ rarakṣur vā ke vā vīrasya pṛṣṭhataḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Als der heldenhafte Sohn des Wagenlenkers im Kampf stand, wer war dazu bestimmt, das rechte Rad seines Streitwagens zu schützen? Oder wer bewachte das linke Rad, und wer war eingesetzt, den Rücken des Kriegers zu verteidigen?“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the disciplined, collective dimension of warfare: a great warrior’s effectiveness depends not only on personal valor but also on coordinated protection—especially of vulnerable points like the chariot’s wheels and rear—reflecting strategic duty (kṣātra-dharma) and mutual reliance in battle.
The narrator Vaiśampāyana poses a clarifying question about the battlefield arrangement around Karṇa: which warriors were stationed to guard the right wheel, the left wheel, and the rear while Karṇa fought—setting up identification of his protectors and the tactical situation.