Shloka 23
Abhimanyunidhana-prakāśaḥ — Vasudeva–Kṛṣṇa–Subhadrā–Kuntī śoka-saṃvāda
Disclosure and Consolation
हतवाहनभूयिष्ठा: पाण्डवा5पि युधिष्ठटिरम् । अक्षौहिण्या निरुत्साहा: शिष्टया पर्यवारयन्
hatavāhanabhūyiṣṭhāḥ pāṇḍavā api yudhiṣṭhiram | akṣauhiṇyā nirutsāhāḥ śiṣṭayā paryavārayan ||
Pāṇḍava pun telah kehilangan sebagian besar tunggangan dan kereta mereka. Gairah perang mereka meredup; namun tetap, dengan Yudhiṣṭhira di barisan depan dan dikelilingi satu akṣauhiṇī yang tersisa, mereka maju menghadapi Śalya.
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when resources are depleted and morale is low, dharmic responsibility is maintained through disciplined action and proper leadership—here symbolized by advancing with Yudhiṣṭhira at the forefront and the remaining forces arranged in protective order.
Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva) describes the Pāṇḍavas: after heavy losses of mounts and vehicles and a decline in battle-enthusiasm, they still move forward to confront Śalya, placing Yudhiṣṭhira in front while the surviving akṣauhiṇī forms a surrounding formation.