Shloka 14
पाण्डवसेनानायकाभिषेकः तथा बलरामागमन-उपदेशः | Appointment of Pandava Commanders and Balarama’s Counsel
धुर्ययो्हययोरेकस्त थान्यौ पार्ष्णिसारथी । तौ चापि रथिनां श्रेष्ठी रथी च हयवित् तथा
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: dhuryayor hayayor ekasthānyau pārṣṇisārathī | tau cāpi rathināṃ śreṣṭhī rathī ca hayavit tathā ||
प्रत्येक रथ के धुर्य घोड़ों की जोड़ी पर एक-एक परिचारक नियुक्त था और एक-एक पार्ष्णिसारथि (पश्च-रक्षक) भी। वे दोनों रथियों में श्रेष्ठ थे—युद्ध में निपुण और अश्व-संचालन में भी कुशल; इस प्रकार वे रथ शत्रुओं के लिए भेदना कठिन, दुर्ग-नगरों के समान सुरक्षित थे।
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.