Shloka 266
भीष्मसेनासंनिवेशः — Bhīṣma’s Mobilization, Omens, and the Kaurava Array
क्षेमधन्वा सुमित्रश्न तस्थु: प्रमुखतो रथा: । पौरव, कलिंगराज श्रुतायुध, काम्बोजराज सुदक्षिण, क्षेमधन्वा तथा सुमित्र--ये पाँच प्रधान रथी दुर्योधनके आगे-आगे चल रहे थे
sañjaya uvāca | kṣemadhanvā sumitraś ca tasthuḥ pramukhato rathāḥ | pauravaḥ kaliṅgarājaḥ śrutāyudhaḥ kāmbojarājaḥ sudakṣiṇaḥ kṣemadhanvā tathā sumitraḥ—ime pañca pradhānā rathino duryodhanasya agre’gre yayuḥ |
Sañjaya berkata: Di barisan paling hadapan berdiri kereta perang Kṣemadhanvā dan Sumitra. Bersama mereka—Paurava, raja Kaliṅga, Śrutāyudha, raja Kāmboja, dan Sudakṣiṇa—lima pahlawan kereta perang terkemuka ini mara mendahului Duryodhana. Rangkap ini menegaskan susunan bala Kaurava yang teratur, menempatkan sekutu-sekutu utama di barisan hadapan sebagai tanda tekad dan pertunjukan kekuatan perang yang disengajakan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of leadership in war: commanders place renowned allies at the forefront to project strength and commitment. It implicitly points to how collective resolve and strategic display can intensify conflict, reminding readers that choices in organizing violence carry moral consequence even when framed as kṣatriya duty.
Sañjaya describes the Kaurava army’s forward line: five principal chariot-warriors—Kṣemadhanvā, Sumitra, Paurava, the king of Kaliṅga, Śrutāyudha, the king of Kāmboja, and Sudakṣiṇa—move ahead of Duryodhana, forming the vanguard as the battle array advances.