Shloka 17
रथानामयुतं चापि पुत्राश्न तव दंशिता: । चित्रसेनादय: शूरा अभ्यरक्षन् पितामहम्
rathānām ayutaṃ cāpi putrāśna tava daṃśitāḥ | citrasenādayaḥ śūrā abhyarakṣan pitāmaham ||
Sañjaya dit : «Et, ô fils de ta lignée, il y avait encore un ayuta (dix mille) de chars—bien armés et rangés—et des héros tels que Citrasena, qui se tinrent tout autour pour protéger l’Aïeul. Ainsi les anciens furent-ils gardés par une force disciplinée, reflet de la résolution des Kuru à maintenir le devoir qu’ils avaient choisi dans la guerre.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined protection of a senior leader in a righteous-war framework: loyalty to one’s commander and orderly martial conduct are presented as part of the Kuru understanding of kṣatriya-dharma, even amid morally fraught conflict.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a large force—ten thousand chariots—along with warriors led by Citrasena, formed a protective screen around Bhīṣma, ensuring the grandsire’s safety on the battlefield.