Shloka 28
प्रतिज्ञां तां तदा राजा कृत्वा मद्रेशमभ्ययात् | ततः शड्खांश्व भेरीश्व शतशश्वैव पुष्कलान्
pratijñāṃ tāṃ tadā rājā kṛtvā madreśam abhyayāt | tataḥ śaṅkhāṃś ca bherīś ca śataśaś caiva puṣkalān |
Sañjaya said: Having then made that vow, the king advanced toward the lord of Madra. Thereupon, in great abundance, conches and kettle-drums were sounded—by the hundreds—proclaiming resolve and rallying the warriors for the grim duties of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of a pratijñā (solemn vow): once a king publicly commits himself, he must act in accordance with that pledge, and the army’s ritual sounds (conch and drum) reinforce collective resolve and accountability in war.
Sañjaya reports that the king, after making a specific vow, moves toward the ruler of Madra (Śalya). As he advances, conches and war-drums are sounded in great numbers, signaling mobilization and the intensification of the battle scene.