Shloka 16
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ९६: सौभद्रस्य आक्रमणम्, अलम्बुसस्य प्रतिविधानम्
Abhimanyu’s assault; Alambusa’s counter-engagement
कुण्जरैश्व सदा मत्तै: षपट्सहस्रैः प्रहारिभि: । अभ्यरक्षन्त सहिता राक्षसेन्द्रं घटोत्कचम्
sañjaya uvāca |
kuñjaraiś ca sadā mattaiḥ ṣaṭ-sahasraiḥ prahāribhiḥ |
abhyarakṣanta sahitā rākṣasendraṃ ghaṭotkacam ||
സഞ്ജയൻ പറഞ്ഞു—അവർ എല്ലാവരും ഒരുമിച്ച് രാക്ഷസേന്ദ്രനായ ഘടോത്കചനെ സംരക്ഷിച്ചു; കൂടെ ആറായിരം യുദ്ധഗജങ്ങൾ—എപ്പോഴും മദോന്മത്തവും പ്രഹാരനിപുണവുമായിരുന്നു.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, strength is not merely individual ferocity; it is sustained by coordinated protection, disciplined resources, and collective resolve. The verse highlights the strategic and ethical reality that safeguarding a key warrior is a shared duty within an army.
Sañjaya describes how a group of warriors jointly guarded Ghaṭotkaca, surrounding him with six thousand musth war-elephants skilled in striking, creating a formidable defensive formation in the battle.