Shloka 53
Kaurava Mobilization at Kurukṣetra (Duryodhana Orders War Preparations) / कुरुक्षेत्रे धार्तराष्ट्र-सैन्यसज्जा
धावतामाद्दयानानां तनुत्राणि च बध्नताम् | प्रयास्यतां पाण्डवानां ससैन्यानां समन्तत:
dhāvatām āddayānānāṃ tanutrāṇi ca badhnatām | prayāsyatāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ sa-sainyānāṃ samantataḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Als die Pāṇḍavas mitsamt ihren Heeren nach allen Seiten zum Aufbruch ansetzten, entstand ein hastiges Treiben—Männer liefen umher, bestiegen ihre Fahrzeuge und schnallten ihre Rüstungen fest. Die Szene trägt das moralische Gewicht des nahenden Konflikts: Die Vorbereitung ist schnell und zweckmäßig, doch sie kündet vom unwiderruflichen Herannahen des Krieges und seiner Folgen.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the momentum that precedes war: once collective action turns to mobilization—arming, mounting, and marching—the moral and practical consequences become difficult to reverse. It implicitly urges reflection on responsibility and restraint before conflict reaches this point.
As the Pāṇḍavas and their forces prepare to depart, people rush in every direction—some running, some mounting their conveyances, and others fastening armor—depicting a charged atmosphere of imminent military movement.