Shloka 16
कुण्जरैश्व सदा मत्तै: षपट्सहस्रैः प्रहारिभि: । अभ्यरक्षन्त सहिता राक्षसेन्द्रं घटोत्कचम्,सदा उन्मत्त रहनेवाले, प्रहारकुशल छ: हजार गजराजोंके साथ आकर उपर्युक्त वीरोंने एक साथ ही राक्षसराज घटोत्कचकी रक्षा की
sañjaya uvāca |
kuñjaraiś ca sadā mattaiḥ ṣaṭ-sahasraiḥ prahāribhiḥ |
abhyarakṣanta sahitā rākṣasendraṃ ghaṭotkacam ||
Sañjaya said: Together, those warriors formed a protective screen around Ghaṭotkaca, the lord of the Rākṣasas, supported by six thousand war-elephants—ever in musth and trained for striking. The scene underscores how, in the ethics of battle, even a fearsome champion is sustained by coordinated protection and disciplined force rather than solitary prowess alone.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, strength is not merely individual ferocity; it is sustained by coordinated protection, disciplined resources, and collective resolve. The verse highlights the strategic and ethical reality that safeguarding a key warrior is a shared duty within an army.
Sañjaya describes how a group of warriors jointly guarded Ghaṭotkaca, surrounding him with six thousand musth war-elephants skilled in striking, creating a formidable defensive formation in the battle.