Shloka 16
कालविभाग-निरूपणं तथा युद्धव्यवस्था
Time-Reckoning and Mobilization Counsel
अथ कस्मात् स्थिता होते रथेषु रथसत्तमा: । भीष्मो द्रोण: कृपश्चैव विकर्णो द्रौणिरेव च
atha kasmāt sthitā hote ratheṣu rathasattamāḥ | bhīṣmo droṇaḥ kṛpaś caiva vikarṇo drauṇir eva ca ||
വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—അപ്പോൾ എന്തുകൊണ്ടാണ് ആ ശ്രേഷ്ഠരഥികൾ തങ്ങളുടെ രഥങ്ങളിൽ തന്നെയായി നിലകൊണ്ടത്—ഭീഷ്മൻ, ദ്രോണൻ, കൃപൻ, കൂടാതെ വികർണനും ദ്രൗണിയും (അശ്വത്ഥാമനും)?
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the gravity of kṣatriya-duty and command responsibility: eminent warriors remain poised on their chariots, suggesting disciplined readiness and the ethical weight of decisions taken at the threshold of violence.
The narrator (Vaiśampāyana) draws attention to a moment of suspense: leading Kuru champions—Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa, Vikarṇa, and Aśvatthāman—are still positioned on their chariots, and the question is raised as to the reason for their continued stance, setting up the explanation of the immediate tactical or situational cause.