Mahabharata 7.175.61 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 175, Shloka 61
तद्भधवान् यातु कर्णेन द्वैरथं युध्यतां निशि । सात्यकि: पृष्ठगोपस्ते भविष्यति महारथ:
tad bhagavān yātu karṇena dvairathaṁ yudhyatāṁ niśi | sātyakiḥ pṛṣṭhagopas te bhaviṣyati mahārathaḥ ||
ततः स भद्रवान् यातु कर्णेन सह; निशि द्वैरथं युध्यताम्। सात्यकिः पृष्ठगोपस्ते भविष्यति महारथः॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights battlefield ethics and strategy: even amid chaos, leaders assign clear roles—direct engagement for the principal fighters and protective responsibility to a trusted ally—showing that duty in war includes safeguarding comrades, not only seeking victory.
Sañjaya reports a tactical instruction: the revered warrior is to advance together with Karṇa for a night-time chariot duel, while Sātyaki, renowned as a mahāratha, is designated to guard the rear and prevent attacks from behind.
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