Shloka 146
भीष्मभीमसमागमः — Bhīṣma–Bhīma Strategic Engagement and Counsel to the King
अन्वश्वं दश धानुष्का धानुष्के दश चर्मिण: । वह व्यूह ऋष्टि और तोमर धारण करनेवाले अश्वारोहियोंके महान् समुदायोंसे भरा था। एक-एक हाथीके पीछे सात-सात रथ
sañjaya uvāca | anvaśvaṃ daśa dhānuṣkā dhānuṣke daśa carmiṇaḥ |
Sañjaya said: In that battle-array, behind each horseman stood ten archers; and behind each archer stood ten warriors bearing shields (and swords). Thus the formation was densely layered, multiplying protection and striking power, and displaying the calculated organization of war rather than any personal ethic of restraint.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily conveys no direct moral injunction; its implicit lesson is about the disciplined, hierarchical organization of armed force—how warfare relies on layered support units (horsemen, archers, shield-bearers) to maximize offense and defense.
Sañjaya is describing the structure of a battle formation: each horseman is backed by ten archers, and each archer is backed by ten shield-bearing fighters, indicating a tightly packed, mutually supporting arrangement within the army.