Shloka 55
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय 54: फल्गुन-प्रतिरोधः, सौबली-व्यूह-विध्वंसः, दुर्योधन-भीष्म-संवादः
पक्षकोटिप्रपक्षेषु पक्षान्तेषु च वारणा:
pakṣakoṭiprapakṣeṣu pakṣānteṣu ca vāraṇāḥ
संजय बोले—हाथी पक्ष-कोटियों, प्रतिपक्ष-कोटियों तथा पंखों के अन्त-भागों पर तैनात किए गए थे—जिससे युद्ध-पंक्ति स्थिर रहे और आकस्मिक भेदन रोका जा सके।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined organization in warfare: strength (elephants) is placed where lines are most vulnerable—on flanks and wing-ends—showing that power must be guided by structure and foresight rather than mere aggression.
Sañjaya is reporting battlefield dispositions: elephants are deployed on the wings, counter-wings, and at the ends of the formation to protect the army’s sides and prevent encirclement or sudden enemy penetration.