Shloka 17
Droṇa’s Withdrawal, Death, and the Kaurava Rout (द्रोणनिधन-प्रसङ्गः)
प्रत्यश्चमेकश्न महाप्रदीप: कृतास्तु तैः पाण्डवै: कौरवेयै: । क्षणेन सर्वे विहिता: प्रदीपा व्यादीपयन्तो ध्वजिनीं तवाशु,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 | praty-aśvam ekaś ca mahāpradīpaḥ kṛtās tu taiḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ kauraveyaiḥ | kṣaṇena sarve vihitāḥ pradīpā vyādīpayanto dhvajinīṃ tavāśu ||
Sañjaya said: “For each horse a single great torch was arranged by the Pāṇḍavas and the sons of the Kurus. In a moment, all those lamps that had been set in order blazed forth, swiftly lighting up your entire army.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the value of order (vihita) and coordinated effort even in conflict: practical discipline can create clarity—literally illumination—and prevent confusion and needless harm on a battlefield.
Sañjaya describes how both sides, Pāṇḍavas and Kauravas, arranged and lit torches—specifically a great torch for each horse—so that the entire host became visible at once.