Shloka 2
Kurukṣetra-anudarśanam — Rāma-hradāḥ and the Question of Kṣatra Continuity (शान्ति पर्व, अध्याय ४८)
रथैस्तैर्नगरप्रख्यै: पताकाध्वजशोभितै: । ययुराशु कुरुक्षेत्र वाजिभि: शीघ्रगामिभि:
rathais tair nagara-prakhyaiḥ patākā-dhvaja-śobhitaiḥ | yayur āśu kuru-kṣetraṃ vājibhiḥ śīghra-gāmibhiḥ ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Raja, setelah itu Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Raja Yudhiṣṭhira, Kṛpācārya, dan yang lainnya, beserta keempat Pāṇḍawa yang tersisa, berangkat dengan segera menuju Kurukṣetra. Mereka menaiki kereta-kereta raksasa menjulang laksana kota, elok berhias panji dan lambang, ditarik kuda-kuda yang berlari cepat.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a simple travel description is framed by dharma: leaders move with resolve toward a place where moral reckoning and right conduct must be addressed. Speed and splendor are secondary to the seriousness of the duty that awaits.
The group proceeds quickly to Kurukṣetra in large, city-like chariots decorated with banners and standards, drawn by swift horses, as narrated by Vaiśampāyana to the king.