Shloka 16
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ९६: सौभद्रस्य आक्रमणम्, अलम्बुसस्य प्रतिविधानम्
Abhimanyu’s assault; Alambusa’s counter-engagement
कुण्जरैश्व सदा मत्तै: षपट्सहस्रैः प्रहारिभि: । अभ्यरक्षन्त सहिता राक्षसेन्द्रं घटोत्कचम्
sañjaya uvāca |
kuñjaraiś ca sadā mattaiḥ ṣaṭ-sahasraiḥ prahāribhiḥ |
abhyarakṣanta sahitā rākṣasendraṃ ghaṭotkacam ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Sama-sama silang bumuo ang mga mandirigmang iyon ng panangga sa paligid ni Ghaṭotkaca, panginoon ng mga Rākṣasa, na sinusuportahan ng anim na libong elepanteng pandigma—laging nasa init ng musth at sinanay sa pananakit. Ipinapakita ng tagpong ito na sa asal ng digmaan, kahit ang isang nakapanghihilakbot na kampeon ay pinatatatag ng magkakaugnay na pag-iingat at disiplinadong lakas, hindi ng nag-iisang tapang lamang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, strength is not merely individual ferocity; it is sustained by coordinated protection, disciplined resources, and collective resolve. The verse highlights the strategic and ethical reality that safeguarding a key warrior is a shared duty within an army.
Sañjaya describes how a group of warriors jointly guarded Ghaṭotkaca, surrounding him with six thousand musth war-elephants skilled in striking, creating a formidable defensive formation in the battle.