Shloka 543
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय 54: फल्गुन-प्रतिरोधः, सौबली-व्यूह-विध्वंसः, दुर्योधन-भीष्म-संवादः
ग्रीवायां नियुतं चापि सहस्राणि च सप्तति: । उस क्रौंचपक्षीके पंखभागमें दस हजार, शिरोभागमें एकः लाख, पृष्ठभागमें एक अर्बुद* बीस हजार तथा ग्रीवाभागमें एक लाख सत्तर हजार रथ मौजूद थे
grīvāyāṁ niyutaṁ cāpi sahasrāṇi ca saptatiḥ |
Sañjaya dit : «Et dans la région du cou également, on fixa un niyuta, avec soixante-dix mille». (Dans le contexte, ceci appartient au dénombrement détaillé du dispositif des Kaurava en la formation dite ‘Krauñca’ —la grue—, comptant les chars placés dans chaque partie, afin de marquer l’ampleur et l’ordonnance réfléchie du combat à venir.)
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse itself is primarily descriptive rather than doctrinal: it underscores how war is prosecuted through careful planning, numerical strength, and structured formations. Ethically, the broader passage invites reflection on the human cost behind such calculations—how vast numbers are marshalled for destruction, and how strategic brilliance can coexist with moral tragedy.
Sañjaya is reporting to the blind king Dhṛtarāṣṭra the arrangement of the Kaurava forces in the Krauñca (crane) formation. This line specifies the number assigned to the ‘neck’ portion of that formation, continuing a section-by-section tally of troops/chariots.