Shloka 15
Adhyāya 111 (Book 6): Daśama-dina-saṃgrāma—Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira and the Śikhaṇḍin-Led Advance
तथैवान्ये महेष्वासा: सुशर्मप्रमुखा नृपा: । जघनं पालयामासुस्तव सैन्यस्य भारत,भारत! इसी प्रकार सुशर्मा आदि अन्य महाधनुर्धर राजाओंने आपकी सेनाके जघनभागकी रक्षाका कार्य सँभाला
tathaivānye maheṣvāsāḥ suśarmapramukhā nṛpāḥ | jaghanaṁ pālayāmāsus tava sainyasya bhārata ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Demikian juga, para pemanah agung yang lain—raja-raja yang dipimpin oleh Suśarmā—memikul tugas menjaga bahagian belakang bala tentera tuanku, wahai Bhārata.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-duty in war: leaders assign and accept specific responsibilities—here, guarding the rear—showing disciplined cooperation and loyalty within a collective enterprise.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, alongside other deployments, Suśarmā and other powerful kings were appointed to protect the back portion of the Kaurava forces, securing the army’s formation from attacks from behind.