Shloka 13
Sainyasaṅgraha and Bhāga-Vyavasthā (Forces Assembled and Rival Allocations) | सैन्यसंग्रह-भागव्यवस्था
ज्येष्ठस्य पाण्डुपुत्रस्य भागो मद्राधिपो बली । तौ तु तत्राब्रुवन् केचिद् विषमौ नो मताविति,बलवान मद्रनरेश ज्येष्ठ पाण्डव युधिष्ठिरके हिस्सेमें पड़े हैं--युधिष्ठिर ही उनके साथ युद्ध करेंगे। परंतु यह बाँटवारा सुनकर कुछ लोग वहाँ बोल उठे थे कि ये दोनों तो हमें परस्पर समान शक्तिशाली नहीं जान पड़ते
sañjaya uvāca |
jyeṣṭhasya pāṇḍuputrasya bhāgo madrādhipo balī |
tau tu tatrābruvan kecid viṣamau no matāv iti ||
Sañjaya dijo: «Para el primogénito de Pāṇḍu, el adversario asignado es el poderoso rey de Madra. Sin embargo, al oír esta designación, algunos allí objetaron: “A nuestro juicio, estos dos no están parejos en fuerza.”»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and strategic concern for proportionality in conflict: observers question whether pairing the eldest Pāṇḍava with the powerful Madra king is a fair match, implying that judgments about justice and prudence accompany martial planning.
In the war preparations, opponents are being ‘assigned’ or matched. Yudhiṣṭhira’s designated counterpart is the mighty king of Madra (Śalya). Some onlookers protest that the two do not appear equally matched in strength.