Shloka 14
Aśvatthāmā’s Lamentation, Vow of Retaliation, and the Manifestation of the Nārāyaṇāstra (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय १६६)
के पृष्ठतश्नाप्पयभवन् वीरा वीरान् विनिध्नतः । के पुरस्तादगच्छन्त निध्नन्तः शात्रवान् रणे,कौन-कौन-से योद्धा द्रोणाचार्यके रथके दाहिने पहियेकी रक्षा करते थे और कौन-कौन- से बायें पहियेकी? कौन-कौन-से वीर वीरोंका वध करनेवाले द्रोणाचार्यके पृष्ठभागके रक्षक थे और रणमें शत्रुसैनिकोंका संहार करनेवाले कौन-कौन-से योद्धा आचार्यके आगे-आगे चलते थे?
sañjaya uvāca | ke pṛṣṭhataḥ nāppayabhavan vīrā vīrān vinighnataḥ | ke purastād agacchanta nighnantaḥ śātravān raṇe |
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ଦ୍ରୋଣାଚାର୍ଯ୍ୟଙ୍କ ରଥର ପଛଭାଗକୁ କେଉଁ କେଉଁ ବୀର ରକ୍ଷା କରୁଥିଲେ—ଯେମାନେ ବୀରମାନଙ୍କୁ ନିଧନ କରୁଥିଲେ? ରଣରେ ଶତ୍ରୁସେନାକୁ ସଂହାର କରି କରି ଆଚାର୍ଯ୍ୟଙ୍କ ଆଗରେ କେଉଁ କେଉଁ ଯୋଦ୍ଧା ଅଗ୍ରସର ହେଉଥିଲେ? ଏବଂ ଦ୍ରୋଣରଥର ଡାହାଣ ଚକ୍ର ଓ ବାମ ଚକ୍ରକୁ କିଏ କିଏ ରକ୍ଷା କରୁଥିଲେ?
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the battlefield ethic of disciplined protection around a key commander: coordinated roles (front, rear, flanks/wheels) sustain an army’s effectiveness. It highlights how individual valor is meant to serve collective order and strategic duty rather than isolated aggression.
Sañjaya is describing (and Dhṛtarāṣṭra is implicitly asking to hear) the arrangement around Droṇa in combat—who marched ahead clearing enemies, who guarded the rear, and (as indicated in the accompanying gloss) who protected the right and left sides/wheels of Droṇa’s chariot.