Shloka 37
शुकवाक्यं (Śuka’s Report on the Vānara Host) / Śuka Describes the Allied Forces to Rāvaṇa
शतंशङ्कुसहस्राणांमहाशङ्कु: इतिस्मृतः ।।6.28.34।।महाशङ्कुसहस्राणांशतंबृन्दमिहोच्यते ।शतंबृन्दसहस्राणांमहावृन्दमितिस्मृतम् ।।6.28.35।।महाबृन्दसहस्राणांशतंपद्ममिहोच्यते ।शतंपद्मसहस्राणांमहापद्ममितिस्मृतिम् ।।6.28.36।।महापद्मसहस्राणांशतंखर्वमिहोच्यते ।शतंखर्वसहस्राणांमहाखर्वमिवोच्यते ।।6.28.37।।महाखर्वसहस्राणांसमुद्रमभिधीयते ।तंसमुद्रसाहस्रमोघइत्यभिधीयते ।।6.28.38।।शतमोघसहस्राणांमहौघइतिविश्रुतः ।
mahāpadma-sahasrāṇāṁ śataṁ kharvam ihocyate |
śataṁ kharva-sahasrāṇāṁ mahākharvam ivocyate ||6.28.37||
Aquí se declara que cien mil Mahāpadmas se llaman Kharva; y que cien mil Kharvas, a su vez, son nombrados Mahākharva.
A lakh of Sanku is known as Maha Sanku. A lakh of Maha Shanka is spoken as Vrinda. A lakh of Vrindas is spoken as Maha Brinda. A lakh of Maha Vrindas is known as Padma. One lakh Padmas is known as Maha Padma and a lakh of Maha Padmas is known as Kharva. A lakh of Kharvas is known as Maha Kharva and a lakh of Maha Kharvas is known as a Samudra. A lakh of Samudras is known as an Ogha. A lakh of Oghas is popularly known as Maha Ogha.
FAQs
The verse supports satya (truthful reporting) and responsible counsel: accurate enumeration is used to convey the real scale of the approaching force, enabling a ruler to act according to kṣātra-dharma (royal duty) with informed prudence rather than denial or arrogance.
In Yuddhakāṇḍa 28, the enemy camp in Laṅkā receives a detailed accounting of Sugrīva’s vānara army. This verse defines higher numeral-units (Kharva, Mahākharva) as part of that systematic count.
Prājñatā (practical wisdom) and satya-vacana (truthful speech): the speaker’s role is to present structured, verifiable information so the king can undertake the right effort in war.