Shloka 4
सेनापति-निर्णयः तथा पाण्डवसेनायाः कुरुक्षेत्रगमनम्
Decision on Command and the Pandavas’ March to Kurukshetra
ततस्ते पृथिवीपाला: प्रययु: सहसैनिका: । भीष्मं सेनापतिं कृत्वा संहृष्टाः कालचोदिता:,तदनन्तर वे सभी भूपाल कालसे प्रेरित हो भीष्मको सेनापति बनाकर बड़े हर्षके साथ सैनिकों-सहित वहाँसे चल दिये हैं
tatas te pṛthivīpālāḥ prayayuḥ sahasainikāḥ | bhīṣmaṃ senāpatiṃ kṛtvā saṃhṛṣṭāḥ kālacoditāḥ ||
Entonces aquellos reyes, acompañados de sus ejércitos, se pusieron en marcha. Apremiados por el peso del tiempo y del destino, y gozosos en su determinación, nombraron a Bhīṣma comandante en jefe y partieron de aquel lugar: un movimiento de oscuro presagio, donde la elección política y la consecuencia moral comienzan a confluir hacia la guerra.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how collective political decisions—especially the appointment of a war-leader—can be propelled by a sense of inevitability (kālacoditāḥ). It implicitly warns that enthusiasm and momentum do not guarantee righteousness; dharma requires discernment even when events feel fated.
A group of kings (allied rulers) depart with their forces after choosing Bhīṣma as their commander-in-chief. Their departure signals the consolidation of military leadership and the accelerating approach toward the Kurukṣetra conflict.