Shloka 16
Droṇa’s Withdrawal, Death, and the Kaurava Rout (द्रोणनिधन-प्रसङ्गः)
रथे रथे पञज्च विदीपकास्तु प्रदीपकास्तत्र गजे त्रयक्ष,एक-एक रथके पास पाँच-पाँच मशालें थीं। प्रत्येक हाथीके साथ तीन-तीन प्रदीप जलते थे। प्रत्येक घोड़ेके साथ एक महाप्रदीपकी व्यवस्था की गयी थी। पाण्डवों तथा कौरवोंके द्वारा इस प्रकार व्यवस्थापूर्वक जलाये गये समस्त प्रदीप क्षणभरमें आपकी सारी सेनाको प्रकाशित करने लगे
sañjaya uvāca | rathe rathe pañca pradīpakās tu pradīpakās tatra gaje trayakṣa |
Sañjaya said: “On each chariot, five torches were set up and kept burning; and with each elephant, three great lamps were arranged. For each horse, a single powerful lamp was provided. Thus, the lamps systematically kindled by both the Pāṇḍavas and the Kauravas quickly illuminated your entire army.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid war, disciplined arrangement and clarity of perception matter: the passage highlights organized preparedness—making the battlefield visible—so actions are not driven purely by confusion or darkness.
Sañjaya describes how both sides arranged torches and lamps on chariots, elephants, and horses so that the armies could see in the darkness; the combined lights quickly illuminated Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s entire host.