अध्याय २६ — शल्यस्य सारथ्य-नियोजनं, कर्णस्य प्रस्थानं, उत्पातदर्शनं च
Chapter 26: Śalya appointed as charioteer; Karṇa’s departure; portents
त्रिगर्तराज: समरे भ्रातृभि: परिवारित: । पुत्रैश्नैव महेष्वासैर्नानाशस्त्रविशारदै:
trigartarājaḥ samare bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritaḥ | putraiś caiva maheṣvāsair nānāśastraviśāradaiḥ ||
Sañjaya nói: Giữa trận tiền, vua xứ Trigarta đứng vững, được các anh em vây quanh, lại có các con trai của ông—những cung thủ đại lực, tinh thông nhiều loại binh khí—kề cận hộ vệ.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how martial duty in the epic is often carried as a family and clan obligation: courage and protection arise from solidarity, yet the same bonds intensify the ethical burden of war because entire lineages become invested in violence and its consequences.
Sañjaya describes a battlefield formation: the Trigarta king is closely guarded and supported by his brothers and sons, all renowned archers and weapon-experts, indicating readiness for a major clash and the concentration of fighting strength around a leader.