Shloka 16
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ९६: सौभद्रस्य आक्रमणम्, अलम्बुसस्य प्रतिविधानम्
Abhimanyu’s assault; Alambusa’s counter-engagement
कुण्जरैश्व सदा मत्तै: षपट्सहस्रैः प्रहारिभि: । अभ्यरक्षन्त सहिता राक्षसेन्द्रं घटोत्कचम्
sañjaya uvāca |
kuñjaraiś ca sadā mattaiḥ ṣaṭ-sahasraiḥ prahāribhiḥ |
abhyarakṣanta sahitā rākṣasendraṃ ghaṭotkacam ||
Sañjaya dit : Ensemble, ces guerriers formèrent un écran protecteur autour de Ghaṭotkaca, seigneur des Rākṣasa, soutenus par six mille éléphants de guerre—toujours en musth et dressés pour frapper. La scène souligne que, dans l’éthique du combat, même un champion redoutable est porté par une protection concertée et une force disciplinée, plutôt que par la seule prouesse solitaire.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, strength is not merely individual ferocity; it is sustained by coordinated protection, disciplined resources, and collective resolve. The verse highlights the strategic and ethical reality that safeguarding a key warrior is a shared duty within an army.
Sañjaya describes how a group of warriors jointly guarded Ghaṭotkaca, surrounding him with six thousand musth war-elephants skilled in striking, creating a formidable defensive formation in the battle.