Shloka 2
Rukmī’s Offer of Aid and Arjuna’s Refusal (रुक्मिप्रस्तावः—अर्जुनप्रत्याख्यानम्)
ऋते सेनाप्रणेतारं पृतना सुमहत्यपि । दीर्यते युद्धमासाद्य पिपीलिकपुटं यथा,“पितामह! कितनी ही बड़ी सेना क्यों न हो? किसी योग्य सेनापतिके बिना युद्धमें जाकर चींटियोंकी पंक्तिके समान छिलन्न-भिन्न हो जाती है
ṛte senāpraṇetāraṃ pṛtanā sumahaty api | dīryate yuddham āsādya pipīlikapuṭaṃ yathā ||
“Grandfather! However vast an army may be, without a worthy commander it falls apart when it meets battle—scattered and crushed like a line of ants.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power without guidance is self-defeating: even a huge force collapses in conflict if it lacks a capable commander who can organize, direct, and restrain it. The ethical implication is that responsibility and disciplined leadership are essential to prevent destructive chaos.
Vaiśaṃpāyana uses a vivid simile to stress a practical lesson relevant to the impending Kurukṣetra conflict: armies need a qualified senāpati. Without such leadership, troops entering battle are broken up like an ant-line trampled and scattered.