Shloka 23
Adhyāya 152: Kaurava-sainyavibhāgaḥ
Division and Standardization of the Kaurava Host
पदातयश्च पुरुषा: शस्त्राणि विविधानि च | उपाजहु: शरीरेषु हेमचित्राण्यनेकश:,पैदल योद्धाओंने भी अपने अंगोंमें सुवर्णजटित कवच तथा भाँति-भाँतिके अनेक अस्त्र-शस्त्र धारण कर लिये
padātayaś ca puruṣāḥ śastrāṇi vividhāni ca | upājahuḥ śarīreṣu hemacitrāṇy anekaśaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: The foot-soldiers too equipped themselves in many ways—taking up diverse weapons and adorning their bodies repeatedly with armor inlaid and ornamented with gold. The scene underscores the deliberate, organized preparation for war, where outward splendor and martial readiness signal the gravity of the coming conflict and the collective resolve of the troops.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the seriousness and inevitability of the approaching war: disciplined preparation and collective mobilization are shown through the infantry arming themselves. Ethically, it frames the conflict as a moment where choices have consequences—once armies are fully equipped, reconciliation becomes harder and the burden of dharma grows heavier.
Vaiśampāyana describes the troops’ mobilization: even the foot-soldiers don gold-ornamented armor and take up a variety of weapons, indicating a large-scale, organized readiness for battle.