Shloka 20
Adhyāya 78 — Bhīṣma’s Advance, Duryodhana’s Rally, and Concurrent Duels (भीष्मस्याभ्युद्यमः, दुर्योधनस्योत्साहवचनम्, विविधयुद्धवर्णनम्)
स्वसेनया च सहित: सुशर्मा प्रस्थलाधिप: । वामपक्ष॑ समाश्रित्य दंशित: समवस्थित:,प्रस्थलाधिपति (त्रिगर्तराज) सुशर्मा कवच धारण करके अपनी सेनाके साथ व्यूहके वामपक्षका आश्रय लेकर खड़े थे
svasenayā ca sahitaḥ suśarmā prasthalādhipaḥ | vāmapakṣaṃ samāśritya daṃśitaḥ samavasthitaḥ ||
ਪ੍ਰਸਥਲ ਦਾ ਅਧਿਪਤੀ (ਤ੍ਰਿਗਰਤ ਰਾਜਾ) ਸੁਸ਼ਰਮਾ ਕਵਚ ਧਾਰ ਕੇ, ਆਪਣੀ ਸੈਨਾ ਸਮੇਤ ਵ੍ਯੂਹ ਦੇ ਖੱਬੇ ਪੱਖ ਦਾ ਆਸਰਾ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਡਟ ਗਿਆ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined adherence to role and placement in a collective undertaking: a warrior-king stands where assigned, equipped and supported by his troops. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, such readiness reflects kṣatriya-duty and strategic responsibility, even though the larger war remains morally fraught.
Sañjaya reports battlefield dispositions: Suśarmā, identified as the ruler of Prasthala, arrives with his own forces, armours himself, and takes position on the left flank of the vyūha (battle-array), indicating the arrangement of Kaurava-aligned forces.