Shloka 17
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय 18: सेनानिनादः, ध्वज-दीप्तिः, भीष्मरक्षण-व्यवस्था च
Battle Muster: Soundscape, Banners, and the Protection of Bhīṣma
पादाताश्षाग्रतो5गच्छन् धनुश्चर्मासिपाणय: । अनेकशतसाहस्रा नखरप्रासयोधिन:,कुछ पैदल सैनिक, जिनकी संख्या कई लाख थी, हाथमें धनुष, ढाल और तलवार लिये आगे-आगे चल रहे थे। वे नखर (बघनखे) और प्रासद्वारा भी युद्ध करनेमें कुशल थे
pādātāḥ agrato 'gacchan dhanuś-carmāsi-pāṇayaḥ | aneka-śata-sāhasrā nakhara-prāsa-yodhinaḥ ||
पादाताः अग्रतोऽगच्छन् धनुश्चर्मासिपाणयः । अनेकशतसाहस्रा नखरप्रासयोधिनः ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the scale and discipline of the war-host: even the infantry are numerous and well-equipped with diverse weapons. Ethically, it frames the coming conflict as a fully mobilized kṣatriya battlefield where duty, preparedness, and the consequences of mass violence are inescapably present.
Sañjaya is reporting to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the battlefield scene at Kurukṣetra. Here he describes the vanguard of the army: vast numbers of foot-soldiers marching ahead, carrying bows, shields, and swords, and skilled also with claw-weapons and spears.