पुरस्तान्नायकः मध्ये कलत्रं स्वामी च पार्श्वयोरश्वा बाहूत्सारः चक्रान्तेषु हस्तिनः प्रसारवृद्धिर्वा पश्चात्सेनापतिर्यायात् निविशेत ॥ कZ_१०.२.०४ ॥
purastān nāyakaḥ madhye kalatraṃ svāmī ca pārśvayor aśvā bāhūtsāraḥ cakrānteṣu hastinaḥ prasāra-vṛddhir vā paścāt senāpatir yāyāt niviśeta
In front should be the guide/leader; in the middle, the women/family and the lord (commander/king); on the flanks, cavalry and picked fighting men; at the ends of the wagon-circles, elephants; and at the rear (or to extend the column as needed), the commander-in-chief should march and encamp.
Central placement reduces exposure to ambush and raids, using combat arms on flanks and rear to create layered protection.