Shloka 22
Adhyāya 152: Kaurava-sainyavibhāgaḥ
Division and Standardization of the Kaurava Host
अथ वर्माणि चित्राणि काज्चनानि बहूनि च । विविधानि च शस्त्राणि चक्कुः सर्वाणि सर्वश:,उन्होंने सोनेके बने हुए बहुत-से विचित्र कवच तथा सब प्रकारके विभिन्न अनेक अस्त्र- शस्त्र धारण कर लिये
atha varmāṇi citrāṇi kāñcanāni bahūni ca | vividhāni ca śastrāṇi cakruḥ sarvāṇi sarvaśaḥ ||
Puis ils préparèrent et revêtirent de nombreuses cuirasses splendides, rehaussées d’or, et mirent aussi en état des armes de toute espèce, en abondance : signe sans équivoque que l’assemblée quittait le domaine du conseil pour entrer dans les rudes nécessités de la guerre, où la préparation extérieure remplace souvent la retenue intérieure.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral pivot-point: when dialogue fails, people turn to material preparedness for violence. It implicitly warns that the momentum of conflict can make war seem inevitable, urging vigilance in preserving restraint and dharma before such preparations become the only language left.
As the situation intensifies, the parties (implied by the plural verbs) equip themselves—donning ornate, gold-adorned armour and readying a full range of weapons—signaling imminent martial action rather than continued negotiation.