Shloka 14
धुर्ययो्हययोरेकस्त थान्यौ पार्ष्णिसारथी । तौ चापि रथिनां श्रेष्ठी रथी च हयवित् तथा,प्रत्येक रथके दो-दो घोड़ोंपर एक-एक रक्षक नियुक्त था, एक-एक रथके लिये दो चक्ररक्षक नियत किये गये थे। वे दोनों ही रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ थे तथा रथी भी अश्वसंचालनकी कलामें निपुण थे। सब ओर सुवर्णमालाओंसे अलंकृत हजारों रथ शोभा पाते थे। शत्रुओंके लिये उनका भेदन करना अत्यन्त कठिन था। वे सब-के-सब नगरोंकी भाँति सुरक्षित थे
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: dhuryayor hayayor ekasthānyau pārṣṇisārathī | tau cāpi rathināṃ śreṣṭhī rathī ca hayavit tathā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: For each pair of principal horses there was a dedicated attendant, and likewise a rear-charioteer/guard. Those men were among the finest of chariot-warriors—skilled fighters and also expert in handling horses. Thus the chariots, richly adorned and carefully protected, were made hard for enemies to break, secure like fortified towns.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined preparedness: effective power in war depends not only on heroic fighters but also on trained support roles (guards, charioteers, horse-handlers). Competence and organization are ethical responsibilities of leadership when conflict becomes unavoidable.
Vaiśampāyana describes the war-ready chariot formations: each chariot’s horses and rear were assigned specialized attendants/guards, and the personnel were elite chariot-warriors skilled in driving and horse-management, making the chariots difficult for enemies to penetrate.