Shloka 25
अस्त्रयुद्धे द्रौणिपार्थसंघर्षः — Karṇa’s Bhārgavāstra and the Search for Yudhiṣṭhira
Chapter 45
तेषां पदातिनागानां पादरक्षा: सहस्रश: । पट्टिशासिधरा: शूरा बभूवुरनिवर्तिन:,पट्टिश और खड्ग धारण किये तथा युद्धसे कभी पीछे न हटनेवाले सहस्रों शूर सैनिक उन पैदलों एवं हाथियोंके पादरक्षक थे
teṣāṁ padātināgānāṁ pādarākṣāḥ sahasraśaḥ | paṭṭiśāsidharāḥ śūrā babhūvur anivartinaḥ ||
Sañjaya nói: Đối với bộ binh và chiến tượng ấy, có hàng ngàn hàng vạn quân hộ vệ dưới chân—những dũng sĩ cầm paṭṭiśa (thương) và gươm—những người không bao giờ quay lưng trước trận mạc.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness (anivartitva)—not retreating from a righteous battle—and shows how discipline and assigned protection are integral to warfare. Courage is presented not as recklessness but as organized, duty-bound resolve.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield arrangement: thousands of brave soldiers armed with spears and swords are stationed as protective guards for the infantry and war-elephants, specifically serving as ‘foot-guards’ to defend vulnerable points and maintain the formation.