Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 25
Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel and the Discharge of the Śakti (शल्यवधप्रसङ्गः)
पृष्ठगोपो भवत्वद्य मम पार्थो धनंजय: । पुरःसरो ममाद्यास्तु भीम: शस्त्रभृतां वर:
pṛṣṭhagopo bhavatv adya mama pārtho dhanañjayaḥ | puraḥsaro mamādyāstu bhīmaḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ ||
Sañjaya nói: “Hôm nay, hãy để Pārtha của ta—Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)—làm hậu vệ, che chở từ phía sau. Và hãy để Bhīma—bậc đứng đầu trong hàng người mang vũ khí—đi trước ta hôm nay làm tiên phong.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights battlefield ethics of protection and responsibility: the strongest and most capable warriors are positioned to safeguard others—one guarding the rear and another leading from the front—showing disciplined reliance on proven virtue and strength rather than rashness.
Sañjaya describes a tactical arrangement for the day’s fighting: Arjuna is assigned as the protector from behind (rear-guard), while Bhīma is placed in front as the leading warrior, indicating an organized formation and mutual protection among the Pāṇḍava heroes.