Shloka 22
रथस्यासन् दश गजा गजस्य दश वाजिन: । नरा दश हयस्यासन् पादरक्षा: समन्ततः,एक-एक रथके पीछे दस-दस हाथी, एक-एक हाथीके पीछे दस-दस घोड़े और एक- एक घोड़ेके पीछे दस-दस पैदल सैनिक सब ओर पादरक्षक नियुक्त किये गये थे
rathasyāsan daśa gajā gajasya daśa vājinaḥ | narā daśa hayasyāsan pādarakṣāḥ samantataḥ |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Di belakang tiap kereta perang ditempatkan sepuluh gajah; di belakang tiap gajah, sepuluh kuda; dan di belakang tiap kuda, sepuluh prajurit pejalan kaki—dipasang di segala sisi sebagai pasukan pengawal.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined organization and layered protection in warfare: valuable units (like chariots) are safeguarded by successive rings of support (elephants, horses, infantry), implying that strength is sustained by orderly coordination and responsible guarding.
Vaiśampāyana describes a battle formation in which each chariot is backed by ten elephants, each elephant by ten horses, and each horse by ten foot-soldiers stationed all around as protective guards.