Shloka 23
Abhimanyunidhana-prakāśaḥ — Vasudeva–Kṛṣṇa–Subhadrā–Kuntī śoka-saṃvāda
Disclosure and Consolation
हतवाहनभूयिष्ठा: पाण्डवा5पि युधिष्ठटिरम् । अक्षौहिण्या निरुत्साहा: शिष्टया पर्यवारयन्,पाण्डवोंके भी बहुत-से वाहन नष्ट हो गये थे। उनमें भी अब युद्धविषयक उत्साह नहीं रह गया था तो भी वे शेष बची हुई एक अक्षौहिणी सेनासे घिरे हुए युधिष्ठिरको आगे करके शल्यका सामना करनेके लिये बढ़े
hatavāhanabhūyiṣṭhāḥ pāṇḍavā api yudhiṣṭhiram | akṣauhiṇyā nirutsāhāḥ śiṣṭayā paryavārayan ||
Vāsudeva said: The Pāṇḍavas too had lost most of their mounts and vehicles. Though their ardor for battle had waned, they nevertheless advanced to face Śalya, placing Yudhiṣṭhira at their head, while being surrounded by the one remaining akṣauhiṇī of their army.
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when resources are depleted and morale is low, dharmic responsibility is maintained through disciplined action and proper leadership—here symbolized by advancing with Yudhiṣṭhira at the forefront and the remaining forces arranged in protective order.
Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva) describes the Pāṇḍavas: after heavy losses of mounts and vehicles and a decline in battle-enthusiasm, they still move forward to confront Śalya, placing Yudhiṣṭhira in front while the surviving akṣauhiṇī forms a surrounding formation.