Shloka 24
भीष्मरक्षण-उद्योगः, शिखण्डि-विवर्जनं, सर्वतोभद्र-व्यूहः
Protection of Bhīṣma, Exemption of Śikhaṇḍin, and the Sarvatobhadra Array
अश्रत्थामा विकर्णशक्ष चित्रसेनो विविंशति: । रथाश्चानेकसाहस्रा ये तेषामनुयायिन:
sañjaya uvāca | aśvatthāmā vikarṇaś ca citraseno viviṁśatiḥ | rathāś cānekasāhasrā ye teṣām anuyāyinaḥ |
Wika ni Sanjaya: Sina Aśvatthāmā, Vikarṇa, Citrasena, at Viviṁśati—kasama ang maraming libong karwaheng sumusunod sa kanila—ay sumulong bilang pananggalang. Ang layon nila ay ingatan ang iyong anak na si Duryodhana nang siya’y salakayin ng marahas na paglusob na wari’y Rākṣasa; sa pag-alalay ng gayong mga dakilang mandirigmang-karwahe, ang hukbong iyon ay naging lubhang mahirap gapiin.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how collective strength and disciplined followership can make an army formidable; ethically, it also invites reflection on how valor and loyalty may be employed in defense of a questionable cause, showing the tension between martial duty and righteous purpose.
Sañjaya lists prominent Kaurava warriors—Aśvatthāmā, Vikarṇa, Citrasena, and Viviṁśati—who, with many thousands of chariots, move to protect Duryodhana when he is under a fierce attack described as rākṣasa-like; their presence and support render the host difficult to defeat.