Shloka 2
पाण्डवसेनानायकाभिषेकः तथा बलरामागमन-उपदेशः | Appointment of Pandava Commanders and Balarama’s Counsel
नरहस्तिरथाश्चानां सारं मध्यं च फल्गु च । सर्वेष्वेतेष्वनीकेषु संदिदेश नराधिप:
narahastirathāś cānāṃ sāraṃ madhyaṃ ca phalgu ca | sarveṣv eteṣv anīkeṣu saṃdideśa narādhipaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: O rei (Duryodhana), após examinar a infantaria, os elefantes, os carros e a cavalaria, separou o que havia de melhor, de mediano e de inferior; e, em cada uma dessas divisões do exército, designou-os para seus postos apropriados.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores disciplined governance and strategic discernment: a ruler evaluates strengths and weaknesses and assigns roles accordingly. Ethically, it also shows how competence and order can be employed toward destructive ends, inviting reflection on the alignment of skill (nīti) with dharma.
As preparations for the Kurukṣetra war intensify, Duryodhana organizes his forces—infantry, elephants, chariots, and cavalry—classifying them into superior, middling, and inferior units and stationing each in appropriate positions within the army formations.