Shloka 266
भीष्मसेनासंनिवेशः — Bhīṣma’s Mobilization, Omens, and the Kaurava Array
क्षेमधन्वा सुमित्रश्न तस्थु: प्रमुखतो रथा: । पौरव, कलिंगराज श्रुतायुध, काम्बोजराज सुदक्षिण, क्षेमधन्वा तथा सुमित्र--ये पाँच प्रधान रथी दुर्योधनके आगे-आगे चल रहे थे
sañjaya uvāca | kṣemadhanvā sumitraś ca tasthuḥ pramukhato rathāḥ | pauravaḥ kaliṅgarājaḥ śrutāyudhaḥ kāmbojarājaḥ sudakṣiṇaḥ kṣemadhanvā tathā sumitraḥ—ime pañca pradhānā rathino duryodhanasya agre’gre yayuḥ |
三阇耶说道：“最前方站立着刹摩檀婆与苏密多罗的战车。与他们同列的还有：波罗婆、迦陵伽王、室罗多优陀、剑菩阇王以及苏达克希那——这五位最卓越的车战勇士，皆在杜尤陀那之前推进。”此偈彰显俱卢军阵列森严，将显赫盟友置于先锋，以示决心，并以有序的武备陈列宣告战争的升级。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of leadership in war: commanders place renowned allies at the forefront to project strength and commitment. It implicitly points to how collective resolve and strategic display can intensify conflict, reminding readers that choices in organizing violence carry moral consequence even when framed as kṣatriya duty.
Sañjaya describes the Kaurava army’s forward line: five principal chariot-warriors—Kṣemadhanvā, Sumitra, Paurava, the king of Kaliṅga, Śrutāyudha, the king of Kāmboja, and Sudakṣiṇa—move ahead of Duryodhana, forming the vanguard as the battle array advances.