अस्त्रयुद्धे द्रौणिपार्थसंघर्षः — Karṇa’s Bhārgavāstra and the Search for Yudhiṣṭhira
Chapter 45
चतुस्त्रिंशत्सहस्रनाणि रथानामनिवर्तिनाम् | संशप्तका युद्धशौण्डा वाम॑ पार्श्वरपालयन्
catuḥstriṁśatsahasrāṇi rathānām anivartinām | saṁśaptakā yuddhaśauṇḍā vām̐ pārśvarapālayan
Wika ni Sañjaya: Tatlumpu’t apat na libong karwaheng pandigma ng mga mandirigmang hindi umatras—ang mga Saṁśaptaka, mabangis at palalo sa digmaan—ang nagbabantay sa kaliwang pakpak.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights disciplined steadfastness in the performance of assigned duty: in war, those known for not retreating are stationed to protect a flank, showing how resolve and commitment (often reinforced by vows) are treated as strategic and moral resources—though deployed within a tragic, ethically complex conflict.
Sanjaya describes the battlefield disposition: a large contingent—thirty-four thousand chariot forces identified as the Saṁśaptakas—are placed to guard the left side of the army, emphasizing their reputation for fierce, unyielding combat.