Shloka 52
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय 54: फल्गुन-प्रतिरोधः, सौबली-व्यूह-विध्वंसः, दुर्योधन-भीष्म-संवादः
एते जनपदा राजनू् दक्षिणं पक्षमाश्रिता: । पट्च्चर
ete janapadā rājan dakṣiṇaṁ pakṣam āśritāḥ | paṭaccaraḥ pauṇḍraḥ pauravaś ca tathā niṣādāḥ saha | pṛṣṭhabhāge tu svayaṁ rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ sthitaḥ | bhīmaseno dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca krauñcapakṣiṇoḥ pakṣasthāne niyuktau | draupadeyāś cābhimanyuḥ mahārathaḥ sātyakiś ca saha piśācā dāradāḥ pauṇḍrāḥ kuṇḍīviṣāḥ mārutāḥ dhenukāḥ taṅgaṇāḥ parataṅgaṇāḥ bāhlīkāḥ tittirāḥ colāḥ pāṇḍyāś ca dakṣiṇapakṣam āśritya tasthuḥ || aniniveśyās tu huṇḍāś ca mālavā dānabhāryāḥ śabarā uddasā vatsā nākulāś ca | tayor ubhayor bhrātroḥ nakula-sahadevayoḥ vāmapakṣo 'śritaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “O King, these regional forces took their station on the right wing. The Paṭaccaras, the Pauṇḍras, the Pauravas, and the Niṣādas were placed there; and King Yudhiṣṭhira himself stood in the rear as the support of the formation. Bhīmasena and Dhṛṣṭadyumna were appointed to the two wing-positions of the ‘Krauñca’ (crane) battle-array. Along with Draupadī’s sons, Abhimanyu, and the great charioteer Sātyaki, the Piśācas, Dāradās, Pauṇḍras, Kuṇḍīviṣas, Mārutas, Dhenukas, Taṅgaṇas, Parataṅgaṇas, Bāhlīkas, Tittiras, Colas, and Pāṇḍyas stood taking shelter of the right wing. On the left wing were arrayed the Aniniveśyas, Huṇḍas, Mālavas, Dānabhāryas, Śabaras, Uddasas, Vatsas, and Nākulas; and the two brothers Nakula and Sahadeva took charge of that left wing.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights dharmic kingship and disciplined leadership in war: a ruler supports the whole host by taking a stabilizing position, while capable commanders are assigned to critical posts. Order, responsibility, and proper delegation are presented as ethical necessities even amid violence.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra how the Pāṇḍava side is arranged in the Krauñca (crane) formation: Yudhiṣṭhira stands in the rear, Bhīma and Dhṛṣṭadyumna hold the wing positions, and various allied peoples are distributed to the right and left wings along with key warriors like Abhimanyu and Sātyaki.