Shloka 29
पाण्डवसेनानायकाभिषेकः तथा बलरामागमन-उपदेशः | Appointment of Pandava Commanders and Balarama’s Counsel
त्रयो गुल्मा गणस्त्वासीद् गणास्त्वयुतशो5भवन् | दुर्योधनस्य सेनासु योत्स्यमाना: प्रहारिण:,तीन गुल्मोंका एक गण होता है। दुर्योधनकी सेनाओंमें युद्ध करनेवाले पैदल योद्धाओंके ऐसे-ऐसे गण दस हजारसे भी अधिक थे
trayo gulmā gaṇas tv āsīd gaṇās tv ayutaśo 'bhavan | duryodhanasya senāsu yotsyamānāḥ prahāriṇaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Three detachments (gulmas) made up a single unit (gaṇa). In Duryodhana’s armies, such units of hard-hitting foot-soldiers, ready to engage in battle, existed by the tens of thousands. The narration underscores the vast scale of mobilization and the momentum toward war, where sheer numbers and organization begin to eclipse restraint and reconciliation.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how organized strength and massive numbers can accelerate the inevitability of war; ethically, it hints at the danger of letting power, preparation, and pride override efforts toward peace and dharmic restraint.
Vaiśampāyana describes the structure and immense scale of Duryodhana’s forces: three gulmas form one gaṇa, and there are tens of thousands of such gaṇas of battle-ready, striking foot-soldiers within his armies.