Shloka 17
कृप-अर्जुन रथयुद्धम्
Kṛpa–Arjuna Chariot Engagement
क्षिप्रं बलचतुर्भागं गृह गच्छ पुरं प्रति । ततो<परक्षतुर्भागो गा: समादाय गच्छतु,तुम सेनाका एक चौथाई भाग लेकर शीघ्र ही हस्तिनापुरकी ओर चल दो तथा दूसरी एक चौथाई टुकड़ी गौओंको साथ लेकर जाय
kṣipraṁ balacaturbhāgaṁ gṛha gaccha puraṁ prati | tato 'paracaturbhāgo gāḥ samādāya gacchatu ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Segera ambil seperempat bala tentera dan pulang ke kota (Hastināpura). Kemudian biarkan seperempat yang lain bergerak, membawa ternakan lembu bersama.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s duty includes both safeguarding the seat of power and protecting valuable resources (like cattle). Bhīṣma’s counsel models prudent division of forces—security and swift action must be balanced rather than pursued recklessly.
Bhīṣma issues battlefield logistics: one quarter of the troops should hurry back toward the city to ensure its safety, while another quarter should move with the cattle, indicating an organized response to a cattle-related operation and the need to prevent strategic vulnerability.