Shloka 6
Vyāsa’s Consolation to Yudhiṣṭhira: Tapas, Kāla, and the Difficulty of Dāna (दान-तपस्-विवेकः)
प्रयातान् सहितान् दृष्टवा पाण्डुपुत्रान् महारथान् | जितकाशिनश्नृ खचरास्त्वरिताश्न महारथा:,फिर तो कौरव सैनिकोंकी बड़ी भयंकर गर्जना सुनायी देने लगी। महारथी पाण्डवोंको एक साथ धावा बोलते देख विजयश्रीसे सुशोभित होनेवाले आकाशचारी महारथी गन्धर्व बड़ी उतावलीके साथ क्षणभरमें उस वनके भीतर ऐसे एकत्र हो गये मानो उन्हें किसीका भय न हो। तदनन्तर अपनी विजयसे उल्लसित होते हुए सारे गन्धर्व शत्रुओंका सामना करनेके लिये लौट पड़े
Vaiśampāyana uvāca | prayātān sahitān dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍuputrān mahārathān | jitakāśinaḥ khecarās tvaritāś ca mahārathāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Seeing the sons of Pāṇḍu—those great chariot-warriors—advancing together, the sky-ranging Gandharva heroes, radiant with the confidence of victory, hurriedly gathered within that forest as though fearing no one. Then, exulting in their success, all the Gandharvas turned back to face the enemy.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how collective resolve and confidence born of prior success can embolden warriors to meet danger without fear; it also cautions that triumph can intensify conflict when opponents, exhilarated by victory, return eagerly to confront the enemy.
As the Pāṇḍavas advance together, the airborne Gandharva warriors quickly assemble in the forest, appearing fearless, and then—buoyed by their earlier success—turn back to engage the opposing force.