Shloka 61
तद्भधवान् यातु कर्णेन द्वैरथं युध्यतां निशि । सात्यकि: पृष्ठगोपस्ते भविष्यति महारथ:
tad bhagavān yātu karṇena dvairathaṁ yudhyatāṁ niśi | sātyakiḥ pṛṣṭhagopas te bhaviṣyati mahārathaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “Then let that venerable one proceed with Karṇa; let them engage in a chariot-duel by night. The great chariot-warrior Sātyaki will serve as your rear-guard and protector.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights battlefield ethics and strategy: even amid chaos, leaders assign clear roles—direct engagement for the principal fighters and protective responsibility to a trusted ally—showing that duty in war includes safeguarding comrades, not only seeking victory.
Sañjaya reports a tactical instruction: the revered warrior is to advance together with Karṇa for a night-time chariot duel, while Sātyaki, renowned as a mahāratha, is designated to guard the rear and prevent attacks from behind.