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 ||
ਸੰਜਯ ਬੋਲਿਆ—ਰਥੀਆਂ ਵੱਲ ਹਾਥੀ-ਯੋਧੇ ਵਧੇ ਅਤੇ ਹਾਥੀਆਂ ਵੱਲ ਰਥੀ ਅੱਗੇ ਆਏ। ਘੋੜਸਵਾਰਾਂ ਉੱਤੇ ਰਥਾਰੂੜ੍ਹ ਟੁੱਟ ਪਏ ਅਤੇ ਰਥਾਰੂੜ੍ਹਾਂ ਉੱਤੇ ਘੋੜਸਵਾਰ ਚੜ੍ਹ ਆਏ।
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.