Shloka 55
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय 54: फल्गुन-प्रतिरोधः, सौबली-व्यूह-विध्वंसः, दुर्योधन-भीष्म-संवादः
पक्षकोटिप्रपक्षेषु पक्षान्तेषु च वारणा:
pakṣakoṭiprapakṣeṣu pakṣānteṣu ca vāraṇāḥ
سنجے نے کہا—ہاتھیوں کو بازوؤں کے پہلوؤں اور مخالف پہلوؤں پر، اور نیز بازوؤں کے سروں پر بھی مقرر کیا گیا تھا—تاکہ صفِ جنگ مضبوط رہے اور اچانک شگاف ڈالنے کی کوششیں روکی جا سکیں۔
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined organization in warfare: strength (elephants) is placed where lines are most vulnerable—on flanks and wing-ends—showing that power must be guided by structure and foresight rather than mere aggression.
Sañjaya is reporting battlefield dispositions: elephants are deployed on the wings, counter-wings, and at the ends of the formation to protect the army’s sides and prevent encirclement or sudden enemy penetration.