Shloka 22
पाण्डवसेनानायकाभिषेकः तथा बलरामागमन-उपदेशः | Appointment of Pandava Commanders and Balarama’s Counsel
रथस्यासन् दश गजा गजस्य दश वाजिन: । नरा दश हयस्यासन् पादरक्षा: समन्ततः,एक-एक रथके पीछे दस-दस हाथी, एक-एक हाथीके पीछे दस-दस घोड़े और एक- एक घोड़ेके पीछे दस-दस पैदल सैनिक सब ओर पादरक्षक नियुक्त किये गये थे
rathasyāsan daśa gajā gajasya daśa vājinaḥ | narā daśa hayasyāsan pādarakṣāḥ samantataḥ |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Di belakang setiap kereta perang ditempatkan sepuluh ekor gajah; di belakang setiap gajah, sepuluh ekor kuda; dan di belakang setiap kuda, sepuluh orang askar berjalan kaki diletakkan di segenap sisi sebagai pengawal pelindung. Susunan ini mencerminkan organisasi yang disengajakan dan perlindungan berlapis, memperlihatkan bagaimana peperangan dijalankan dengan tertib dan disiplin.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined organization and layered protection in warfare: valuable units (like chariots) are safeguarded by successive rings of support (elephants, horses, infantry), implying that strength is sustained by orderly coordination and responsible guarding.
Vaiśampāyana describes a battle formation in which each chariot is backed by ten elephants, each elephant by ten horses, and each horse by ten foot-soldiers stationed all around as protective guards.