Shloka 5
भीष्मस्य शरवर्षः — Bhīṣma’s Arrow-Storm and Kṛṣṇa’s Impulse to Intervene
अश्वृत्थामा सोमदत्तश्नावन्त्यौ च महारथौ । महत्या सेनया युक्ता वाम॑ पक्षमपालयन्
Aśvatthāmā Somadattaś ca Nāvantyau ca mahārathau | mahatyā senayā yuktā vāmaṁ pakṣam apālayan ||
சஞ்சயன் கூறினான்—அஸ்வத்தாமா, சோமதத்தன், அவந்தியின் மகாரதர்கள் ஆகியோர் பெரும் படையுடன் கூடி, வியூகத்தின் இடப்பக்கத்தைப் பாதுகாத்தனர்.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid warfare, the text emphasizes disciplined duty: leaders are assigned specific responsibilities (here, guarding a flank) and are expected to uphold them with coordination and steadfastness—an aspect of kṣatriya-dharma and organized conduct.
Sañjaya reports the deployment of key Kaurava warriors. Aśvatthāmā, Somadatta, and Nāvantya, supported by a large force, are stationed to defend the left wing of the army formation.