कुरुसभायां केशवागमन-सत्कारविधानम् / Preparations to Honor Keśava at the Kuru Court
पदातीनां सहस्नं च सादिनां च परंतप । भोज्यं च विपुलं राजन प्रेष्याश्न शतशो5परे
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
padātīnāṃ sahasraṃ ca sādīnāṃ ca parantapa |
bhojyaṃ ca vipulaṃ rājan preṣyāś ca śataśo 'pare ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O scorcher of foes, O king, there were a thousand foot-soldiers and a thousand horsemen, abundant provisions, and hundreds of other attendants as well.” The narration underscores that even a righteous mission is undertaken with practical preparedness—protection, logistics, and disciplined retinue—so that duty may be carried out effectively amid looming conflict.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical practicality of dharma in action: even when pursuing a rightful objective, one must ensure orderly support—troops, supplies, and attendants—so that responsibility is fulfilled without negligence or avoidable risk.
Vaiśampāyana continues describing the king’s arrangements: a sizeable escort of infantry and cavalry, ample provisions, and many attendants accompany the principal figure’s departure, indicating a formal, protected journey in a tense political-military context.