Shloka 6
व्यथयन्निव भूतानि कम्पयन्निव मेदिनीम् । शनैर्विश्रामयन् सेनां स ययौ येन पाण्डव:,राजा शल्य समस्त प्राणियोंको व्यथित और पृथ्वीको कम्पित-से करते हुए अपनी सेनाको धीरे-धीरे विभिन्न स्थानोंपर ठहराकर विश्राम देते हुए उस मार्गपर चले, जिससे पाण्डुनन्दन युधिष्ठिरके पास शीघ्र पहुँच सकते थे
vyathayann iva bhūtāni kampayann iva medinīm | śanair viśrāmayann senāṃ sa yayau yena pāṇḍavaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: King Śalya advanced along the route by which he could quickly reach the Pāṇḍava (Yudhiṣṭhira). As he went, his great host seemed to distress living beings and to make the earth itself tremble; yet he moved steadily, halting the army here and there to let it rest in stages. The verse underscores the moral weight of marching power: even disciplined movement toward a political goal carries unavoidable pressure upon creatures and land.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even legitimate political movement and military organization have ethical consequences: the sheer mass of an army can distress beings and strain the land. The verse hints at the responsibility of rulers to balance strategic aims with restraint and care for those affected.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that King Śalya proceeds with his army toward the Pāṇḍavas (especially Yudhiṣṭhira). The march is powerful enough to seem to shake the earth, but Śalya advances methodically, stopping at intervals to rest the troops so he may reach them promptly.