Shloka 27
Sātyaki-praveśaḥ and Duryodhana-saṃnipātaḥ
Sātyaki’s passage and Duryodhana’s mass engagement
अवैक्षन्ताचलैनेंत्रै: परिवार्य नरर्षभौ । रथी, महावत, घुड़सवार और पैदल सभी उन दोनों नरश्रेष्ठ वीरोंको घेरकर उन्हें एकटक नेत्रोंसे निहारने लगे ।। हस्त्यनीकान्यतिष्ठन्त तथानीकानि वाजिनाम्
sañjaya uvāca | avaikṣantācalair netraiḥ parivārya nararṣabhau | rathino mātaṅgāś ca vājinaś ca padātayaḥ sarve tāv ubhau narottamau vīkṣitum ekāgram abhyatiṣṭhan | hastyanīkāny atiṣṭhanta tathā anīkāni vājīnām ||
अवैक्षन्ताचलैर्नेत्रैः परिवार्य नरर्षभौ । रथिनो महावताः शूरा अश्वारोहाः पदातयः । सर्वे तौ नरशार्दूलौ एकाग्रैर्नेत्रैर्न्यवीक्षन्त । हस्त्यनीकान्यतिष्ठन्त तथैवानीकानि वाजिनाम् ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined attention and collective restraint in war: even amid violence, armies can hold formation and observe a decisive encounter, implying that order (niyama) and command structure govern action, not mere impulse.
Sañjaya describes a moment when all four arms of the army—chariots, elephants, cavalry, and infantry—encircle two outstanding warriors and watch them intently, while the elephant and cavalry divisions remain stationed in their arrays.