Shloka 89
अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
केडरक्षन् दक्षिणं चक्र सूतपुत्रस्य युध्यत: । वाम॑ चक्र ररक्षुर्वा के वा वीरस्य पृष्ठत:
ke rakṣan dakṣiṇaṃ cakraṃ sūtaputrasya yudhyataḥ | vāmaṃ cakraṃ rarakṣur vā ke vā vīrasya pṛṣṭhataḥ ||
केऽरक्षन् दक्षिणं चक्रं सूतपुत्रस्य युध्यतः । वामं चक्रं ररक्षुर्वा के वा वीरस्य पृष्ठतः ॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the disciplined, collective dimension of warfare: a great warrior’s effectiveness depends not only on personal valor but also on coordinated protection—especially of vulnerable points like the chariot’s wheels and rear—reflecting strategic duty (kṣātra-dharma) and mutual reliance in battle.
The narrator Vaiśampāyana poses a clarifying question about the battlefield arrangement around Karṇa: which warriors were stationed to guard the right wheel, the left wheel, and the rear while Karṇa fought—setting up identification of his protectors and the tactical situation.