Shloka 23
Virāṭa’s Mobilization to Recover the Cattle (गोधनरक्षणार्थ विराटस्य सैन्यसमायोजनम्)
यथोद्देश॑ च गच्छाम: सहितास्तत्र कौरवै: । सुशर्मा च यथोद्दिष्टं देशं यातु महारथ: । त्रिगर्ती: सहितो राजा समग्रबलवाहन:
yathoddeśaṁ ca gacchāmaḥ sahitās tatra kauravaiḥ | suśarmā ca yathoddiṣṭaṁ deśaṁ yātu mahārathaḥ | trigartīḥ sahito rājā samagrabalavāhanaḥ ye yāntu sahitās tatra virāṭanagaraṁ prati | kṣipraṁ gopān samāsādya gṛhṇantu vipulaṁ dhanam |
Vaiśampāyana said: “Let us proceed there according to the plan, together with the Kauravas. And let the great chariot-warrior Suśarmā go to the region assigned to him. Let the king of the Trigartas, accompanied by his men and with his forces and vehicles fully assembled, march in a body toward the city of Virāṭa. Reaching the cowherds quickly, let them seize the abundant wealth there—namely the great herds of cattle.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how political ambition and military planning can target economic lifelines (cattle/wealth). Ethically, it frames a dharmic tension: organized power seeks gain through coercion, foreshadowing consequences when wealth is pursued without rightful claim.
Instructions are being laid out for a coordinated move: Suśarmā and the Trigarta forces are directed to march toward Virāṭa’s city and swiftly reach the cowherds to seize the large cattle-wealth, as part of a planned raid involving the Kauravas.