Shloka 28
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — सैन्यप्रशंसा, भेदनवृत्तान्त-प्रश्नः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya Dialogue: Praise of the Host and Inquiry after the Breach
तेषां च पृष्ठतो राजा बलेन महता वृतः । जयद्रथस्ततो राजा सूचीपाशश्वे व्यवस्थित:,उनके पीछे विशाल सेनाके साथ स्वयं राजा जयद्रथ सूचीव्यूहके पार्श्रभागमें खड़ा था
teṣāṃ ca pṛṣṭhato rājā balena mahatā vṛtaḥ | jayadrathas tato rājā sūcīpāśaśve vyavasthitaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Behind them, King Jayadratha—surrounded by a great force—took his position on the flank of the Sūcī (needle) formation. The arrangement shows deliberate tactical intent: power is placed not merely at the front but in supporting positions, where it can obstruct, reinforce, and control the flow of battle—an ethically charged reminder that in war, outcomes often hinge on calculated placement and collective backing rather than solitary valor.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how power in warfare is exercised through organization and support structures: a leader’s effectiveness depends on strategic placement and the backing of a large force. Ethically, it points to the reality that outcomes are shaped by collective arrangements and calculated positioning, not only by individual heroism.
Sañjaya describes the Kaurava deployment: King Jayadratha, accompanied by a large army, stands behind the main body and specifically on the flank of the Sūcī (needle) battle formation, indicating a guarded, supportive, and potentially obstructive tactical role.