Shloka 18
Omens in the Kuru Host and Droṇa’s Recognition of Arjuna (क्लीबवेषधारी पार्थ-परिज्ञानम्)
संयच्छ मामकान श्रांस्तथैव त्वं बृहन्नले । कुरुभिर्योत्स्यमानस्य गोधनानि परीप्सत:,“बृहन्नले! तुम अर्जुनकी ही भाँति मेरे घोड़ोंको भी काबूमें रखना, क्योंकि मैं अपना गोधन वापस लेनेके लिये कौरवोंके साथ युद्ध करनेवाला हूँ
saṃyaccha māmakān śrāṃs tathaiva tvaṃ bṛhannale | kurubhir yotsyamānasya godhanāni parīpsataḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „O Bṛhannalā, zügle auch meine ermüdeten Pferde—so wie du die Arjunas zügelst—denn ich werde gegen die Kuru kämpfen, um mein Vieh zurückzuerlangen.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a kṣatriya-oriented ethic: protecting and recovering one’s rightful wealth (here, cattle) is treated as a duty, and effective action requires disciplined control—symbolized by restraining the horses before entering battle.
In the Virāṭa episode surrounding the cattle raid, the speaker addresses Bṛhannalā (Arjuna in disguise), asking him to control the weary horses like he does Arjuna’s, because the speaker is preparing to fight the Kurus to reclaim the stolen cattle.