Shloka 12
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ७२: सैन्यगुणवर्णनम्, व्यूहरक्षा, दैव-पुरुषकारचिन्ता
पृष्ठे समभवच्छीमान् स्वयं राजा युधिष्ठिर: । भ्रातृभ्यां सहितो वीरो यमाभ्यां चारुविक्रम:,उत्तम पराक्रमसे सम्पन्न स्वयं श्रीमान् वीर राजा युधिष्ठिर भी अपने दो भाई नकुल और सहदेवके साथ पृष्ठभागमें ही सुशोभित हुए
sañjaya uvāca | pṛṣṭhe samabhavac chrīmān svayaṃ rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | bhrātṛbhyāṃ sahito vīro yamābhyāṃ cāruvikramaḥ |
Sañjaya said: On the rear side (of the formation), the illustrious king Yudhiṣṭhira himself took position, the heroic one of pleasing prowess, accompanied by the two ‘Yama-twins’—Nakula and Sahadeva. The placement underscores a disciplined, protective arrangement in battle: the dharmic king is not merely seeking glory at the front, but ensuring steadiness and safeguarding the formation with his brothers, embodying responsibility and order amid war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, dharma expresses itself as order, responsibility, and protection of the whole. Yudhiṣṭhira’s placement at the rear with his brothers suggests steadiness and guardianship rather than impulsive pursuit of personal glory.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield arrangement: King Yudhiṣṭhira is stationed at the back of the formation, accompanied by the twin brothers Nakula and Sahadeva (called the ‘Yama-twins’), indicating their assigned role within the army’s disposition.