Shloka 166
उलूकदूतवाक्यम् / Ulūka’s Message to the Pāṇḍavas
अक्षौहिण्या महावीर्य: पाण्डवान् क्षिप्रमागमत् । महापराक्रमी भोजराज रुक्मी एक अक्षौहिणी विशाल सेनासे घिरा हुआ शीघ्रतापूर्वक पाण्डवोंके पास आया
akṣauhiṇyā mahāvīryaḥ pāṇḍavān kṣipram āgamat | mahāparākrāmī bhojarāja rukmī ekākṣauhiṇī-viśāla-senā-samāvṛtaḥ śīghratāpūrvakaṃ pāṇḍavān upāgamat |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Rukmī, raja kaum Bhoja yang perkasa dan berdaya-heroik besar, segera datang kepada para Pāṇḍava, dikelilingi pasukan luas sebesar satu akṣauhiṇī.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
As the Kurukṣetra war nears, power consolidates through alliances; the ethical dimension lies in discerning which side aligns with dharma, since military strength is portrayed as consequential but morally charged.
Vaiśampāyana reports that Rukmī, the Bhoja king, swiftly approaches the Pāṇḍavas accompanied by a large force—one akṣauhiṇī—signaling the gathering of supporters and resources before the conflict.