Shloka 2
Daitya-āśvāsana of Duryodhana; Karṇa’s assurance and the mobilization of the Kaurava host
ततस्तैर्विहित: पूर्व समज्रो नाम बल्लव: । समीपस्थास्तदा गावो धृतराष्टे न्न्यवेदयत्,उन लोगोंने समंग नामक एक ग्वालेको पहलेसे ही सिखा-पढ़ाकर ठीक कर लिया था। उसने राजा धृतराष्ट्रकी सेवामें निवेदन किया कि महाराज! आजकल आपकी गौएँ समीप ही आयी हुई हैं!
tatas tair vihitaḥ pūrvaṃ samajro nāma ballavaḥ | samīpasthās tadā gāvo dhṛtarāṣṭre nivedayat ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then, having been previously coached and prepared by them, a cowherd named Samajra approached King Dhṛtarāṣṭra and submitted: “O King, at present your cows have come and are staying nearby.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how courtly outcomes can be influenced by carefully staged information: even a simple report about cattle can be used as a strategic prompt, raising ethical questions about intention, truthfulness, and manipulation in governance.
A cowherd named Samajra, previously instructed by others, goes to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra and reports that the king’s cows are currently nearby—setting up the next action in the story through an apparently routine pastoral message.