Shloka 15
Śālva–Pradyumna Yuddha: Sārathya-kauśala, Astra-pratikāra, Daiva-niyati
Chapter 20
प्रसन्नचित्तवाले उन वीरोंके द्वारा आशीर्वादसे अभिनन्दित होकर मैंने श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणोंसे स्वस्तिवाचन कराया और मस्तक झुकाकर भगवान् शिवको प्रणाम किया। नरश्रेष्ठ! तदनन्तर शैब्य और सुग्रीव नामक घोड़ोंसे जुते हुए अपने रथके द्वारा सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंको प्रतिध्वनित करते हुए श्रेष्ठ शंख पांचजन्यको बजाकर मैंने विशाल सेनाके साथ रणके लिये प्रस्थान किया। मेरी उस व्यूहरचनासे युक्त और नियन्त्रित सेनामें हाथी, घोड़े, रथी और पैदल--चारों ही अंग मौजूद थे। उस समय वह सेना विजयसे सुशोभित हो रही थी ।। १२ --2४ || समतीत्य बहुन् देशान् गिरींश्व बहुपादपान् | सरांसि सरितश्चैव मार्तिकावतमासदम्,तब मैं बहुत-से देशों और असंख्य वृक्षोंसे हरे-भरे पर्वतों, सरोवरों और सरिताओंको लाँघता हुआ मार्तिकावतमें जा पहुँचा
prasannacittavālaiḥ tair vīraiḥ āśīrvādair abhinanditaḥ aham śreṣṭha-brāhmaṇebhyaḥ svasti-vācanaṃ kārayitvā mastakaṃ namayitvā bhagavantaṃ śivaṃ praṇamya | naraśreṣṭha! tadanantaraṃ śaibya-sugrīva-nāmakābhyāṃ aśvabhyāṃ yuktasya mama rathasya ninādena sarvā diśaḥ pratidhvanayan śreṣṭha-śaṅkhaṃ pāñcajanyaṃ vādayitvā vipulāṃ senāṃ gṛhītvā raṇāya prasthitaḥ | mama vyūha-racanā-yuktāyāṃ niyantritāyāṃ ca senāyāṃ hastinaḥ aśvāḥ rathinaḥ padātayaś ca—catvāro 'ṅgāni sarvāṇy eva āsan | tadā sā senā vijayena suśobhitā babhūva || samatītya bahūn deśān girīṃś ca bahu-pādapān | sarāṃsi saritaś caiva mārtikāvatam āsadam ||
Vāsudeva said: With a tranquil mind, honored by the blessings of those valiant men, I had eminent Brahmins pronounce auspicious benedictions; then, bowing my head, I paid reverence to Lord Śiva. O best of men, thereafter, mounting my chariot yoked to the horses named Śaibya and Sugrīva, I set out for battle with a vast army—making all directions resound as I blew the excellent conch Pāñcajanya. My forces, arranged in a disciplined battle-formation, contained all four arms—elephants, cavalry, charioteers, and infantry—and at that time the army shone with the promise of victory. Having crossed many regions, and mountains thick with trees, and having passed lakes and rivers, I arrived at Mārtikāvata.
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Before undertaking violent or high-stakes action, a leader should cultivate inner composure, seek auspicious counsel and blessings, and align the enterprise with dharma through reverence and disciplined preparation; power is shown not only by force but by restraint, order, and accountability.
Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) receives blessings, arranges auspicious rites, bows to Śiva, then sets out for battle with a large, well-organized fourfold army, sounding the conch Pāñcajanya; after marching across many lands and natural features, he reaches Mārtikāvata.