Shloka 21
भीष्मसेनासंनिवेशः — Bhīṣma’s Mobilization, Omens, and the Kaurava Array
श्रुतायुथश्षित्रसेन: पुरुमित्रो विविंशति:
śrutāyudhaś citrasenaḥ purumitro viviṁśatiḥ | syandanair varavarmāṇo bhīṣmasyāsan purogamāḥ ||
三阇耶说道：“输多由陀、质多罗仙那、补卢密多罗与毗毗ṃśati——乘战车、披华美甲胄——在毗湿摩之前，驰于先锋。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical seriousness of command in war: arranging a vanguard is not merely display but a responsibility, since leaders decide who bears the first impact. It reflects kṣatriya-dharma in its strategic dimension—courage and protection of the main commander—while implicitly raising the moral weight of sending others forward.
Sanjaya describes the Kaurava advance: named warriors, mounted on chariots and wearing fine armor, move ahead as the forward guard before Bhīṣma, indicating the formation and momentum of the army at the opening of battle movements.