Shloka 51
Draupadī-apaharaṇa-saṃdeśaḥ
Report of Draupadī’s Abduction and the Pāṇḍavas’ Pursuit
भूरिश्रवा: सोमदत्तो महाराजश्न बाह्विक: । रथै्नानाविधाकारैहयैर्गजवरैस्तथा,राजेन्द्र! कर्ण तथा द्यूतकृशल शकुनिके साथ दुःशासन आदि सब भाई, भूरिश्रवा, सोमदत्त तथा महाराज बाह्नीक--ये सभी कुरुकुलरत्न नाना प्रकारके रथों, गजराजों तथा घोड़ोंपर बैठकर राजसिंह दुर्योधनके पीछे-पीछे चल रहे थे। जनमेजय! थोड़े समयमें उन सबने अपनी राजधानी हस्तिनापुरमें प्रवेश किया
Vaiśampāyana uvāca |
Bhūriśravāḥ Somadatto mahārājaś ca Bāhvikaḥ |
Rathair nānāvidhākārair hayair gajavarais tathā, rājendra! |
Karṇa tathā dyūtakṛc ca Śakuniś ca sātha Duḥśāsanādayaḥ sarve bhrātaraḥ |
… Duryodhanasya pṛṣṭhataḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ prayayuḥ |
Janamejaya! alpena kālena te sarve Hastināpuraṃ rājadhānīm praviśan ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Bhūriśravas, Somadatta, and the aged king Bāhlīka—along with Karṇa, Śakuni the gambler, and Duḥśāsana and the rest of the brothers—those jewels of the Kuru line, mounted on chariots of many kinds, on fine horses, and on lordly elephants, proceeded behind Duryodhana. O Janamejaya, in a short time they all entered their capital, Hastināpura.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
External grandeur—armies, vehicles, and royal entourage—does not guarantee righteousness. The verse subtly contrasts the Kauravas’ impressive power with the ethically fraught counsel and actions associated with figures like Śakuni and the party following Duryodhana, hinting that adharma can travel with splendor and still lead to ruin.
A group of prominent Kuru figures—Bhūriśravas, Somadatta, Bāhlīka, Karṇa, Śakuni, and Duḥśāsana with the other brothers—ride in a grand procession of chariots, horses, and elephants, following Duryodhana, and soon enter the capital city, Hastināpura.