Shloka 22
पाण्डवसेनानायकाभिषेकः तथा बलरामागमन-उपदेशः | Appointment of Pandava Commanders and Balarama’s Counsel
रथस्यासन् दश गजा गजस्य दश वाजिन: । नरा दश हयस्यासन् पादरक्षा: समन्ततः
rathasyāsan daśa gajā gajasya daśa vājinaḥ | narā daśa hayasyāsan pādarakṣāḥ samantataḥ |
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Atrás de cada carro estavam postados dez elefantes; atrás de cada elefante, dez cavalos; e atrás de cada cavalo, dez soldados de infantaria eram colocados por todos os lados como guardas protetores. A formação reflete organização deliberada e proteção em camadas, mostrando como a guerra era conduzida com ordem disciplinada e cuidadosa salvaguarda das unidades-chave.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined organization and layered protection in warfare: valuable units (like chariots) are safeguarded by successive rings of support (elephants, horses, infantry), implying that strength is sustained by orderly coordination and responsible guarding.
Vaiśampāyana describes a battle formation in which each chariot is backed by ten elephants, each elephant by ten horses, and each horse by ten foot-soldiers stationed all around as protective guards.