Shloka 24
Adhyāya 78 — Bhīṣma’s Advance, Duryodhana’s Rally, and Concurrent Duels (भीष्मस्याभ्युद्यमः, दुर्योधनस्योत्साहवचनम्, विविधयुद्धवर्णनम्)
प्रतीयू रथिनो नागा नागांश्व रथिनो ययु: । हयारोहान् रथारोहा रथिनश्लापि सादिन:,रथियोंकी ओर हाथी और हाथियोंकी ओर रथी बढ़े। घुड़सवारोंपर रथारोही तथा रथारोहियोंपर घुड़-सवार चढ़ आये
pratīyur rathino nāgā nāgāṁś ca rathino yayuḥ | hayārohān rathārohā rathināś cāpi sādinaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Para pahlawan bergajah menekan para pejuang berkereta, dan para pejuang berkereta pula mara menyerbu gajah. Para pahlawan di atas kereta tempur menerjang pasukan berkuda, dan kavaleri juga meluru ke arah para pemandu kereta—setiap cabang angkatan bertemu lawannya dalam rempuhan sengit yang saling bertaut.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse is primarily descriptive rather than doctrinal: it highlights the ordered yet violent engagement of different military divisions. Implicitly, it reflects the kṣatriya-world of the epic, where disciplined confrontation and role-based duty (dharma as one’s function in war) frame the chaos of battle.
Sañjaya reports a clash of arms on the battlefield: elephant units move against chariot fighters, chariot fighters counter the elephants, chariot-riders attack horsemen, and cavalry press back against the charioteers—depicting a simultaneous, reciprocal charge among the main combat branches.