Shloka 46
Draupadī-apaharaṇa-saṃdeśaḥ
Report of Draupadī’s Abduction and the Pāṇḍavas’ Pursuit
रथनागाश्वकलिलां पदातिजनसंकुलाम् | गज्जौघप्रतिमा राजन् सा प्रयाता महाचमू:
rathanāgāśvakalilāṁ padātijana-saṅkulām | gajjaugha-pratimā rājan sā prayātā mahācamūḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : « Ô roi, cette grande armée—épaisse de chars, d’éléphants et de chevaux, et encombrée de masses de fantassins—s’avança, pareille à un immense troupeau d’éléphants. »
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how intention crystallizes into action: when a ruler’s resolve turns toward war, resources and people rapidly assemble into an overwhelming force. Ethically, it warns that decisions at the level of will and policy can unleash large-scale consequences that become difficult to restrain once set in motion.
Vaiśampāyana describes a massive fourfold army—chariots, elephants, horses, and infantry—moving out in formation. The host is portrayed as densely packed and formidable, likened to a great herd or surge of elephants as it advances.