Shloka 82
उत्पातवर्णनम् (Utpāta-varṇanam) — Catalogue of Portents
महादोष: संनिपातस्तस्याद्य: क्षय उच्यते । परस्परज्ञा: संहृष्टा व्यवधूता: सुनिश्चिता:
mahādoṣaḥ saṁnipātas tasyādyaḥ kṣaya ucyate | parasparajñāḥ saṁhṛṣṭā vyavadhūtāḥ suniścitāḥ ||
Vyāsa bersabda: Perang adalah gudang dosa besar; dan yang terutama di antaranya ialah ‘kṣaya’—pemusnahan, pembantaian massal. Namun bila sekelompok kecil ksatria yang saling mengenal, dipenuhi sukacita dan semangat, bebas dari keterikatan yang mengalihkan, serta bertekad teguh untuk menang, berdiri bersama dalam keberanian, mereka dapat melumat bala tentara yang jauh lebih besar.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vyāsa frames massed battle as a grave strategic and moral danger because its primary outcome is kṣaya—large-scale destruction. He then highlights the counter-principle: disciplined cohesion, mutual trust, detachment from distractions, and unwavering resolve can make a small, virtuous, well-knit unit more effective than a huge but less integrated host.
In the Bhīṣma Parva’s opening war context, Vyāsa offers counsel about the nature of warfare: he warns that the gathering of armies tends toward slaughter, yet he explains how a compact group of mutually known, enthusiastic, detached, and determined warriors can overcome a much larger force through unity and steadfast courage.