Shloka 51
Kaurava Mobilization at Kurukṣetra (Duryodhana Orders War Preparations) / कुरुक्षेत्रे धार्तराष्ट्र-सैन्यसज्जा
हयवारणशब्दाशक्ष नेमिघोषाश्ष सर्वतः | शड्खदुन्दुभिघोषाश्व तुमुला: सर्वतो5भवन्,सब ओर घोड़े, हाथी और रथोंका घोष होने लगा। सभी ओर शंख और दुन्दुभियोंकी भयानक ध्वनि गूँजने लगी
hayavāraṇaśabdāś ca nemighoṣāś ca sarvataḥ | śaṅkhadundubhighoṣāś ca tumulāḥ sarvato 'bhavan ||
Vaiśampāyana said: From every side arose the sounds of horses and elephants, and the rumbling of chariot-wheels. All around, the blaring of conches and the booming of kettledrums resounded in a terrifying uproar.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how outward mobilization for war—signals, drums, and the roar of armies—marks a point of no return where ethical responsibility intensifies. It implicitly contrasts the ease of escalation with the heavy dharmic consequences that follow once violence is set in motion.
As narrated by Vaiśampāyana, the battlefield atmosphere swells: horses and elephants stir, chariot-wheels rumble, and conches and war-drums sound from all directions, indicating that forces are assembling and the conflict is about to break into open war.