Shloka 15
मरुत्तोपाख्यान-प्रस्तावः — Genealogy to Marutta and the Logistics of Royal Sacrifice
यदा तु परमामार्ति गतो5सौ सपुरो नृपः । ततः प्रदध्मौ स कर प्रादुरासीत् ततो बलम्,जब वे नरेश नगरवासियोंसहित भारी विपत्तिमें पड़ गये, तब उन्होंने अपने हाथको मुँहसे लगाकर उसे शंखकी भाँति बजाया। इससे बहुत बड़ी सेना प्रकट हो गयी
yadā tu paramām ārtiṃ gato 'sau sapuro nṛpaḥ | tataḥ pradadhmau sa karaṃ prādurāsīt tato balam ||
Vyāsa said: When that king, together with his city (and its people), fell into extreme distress, he brought his hand to his mouth and blew upon it as though it were a conch. From that act, a great force—an army—manifested at once, as if summoned in response to the crisis.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s foremost duty is the protection of the people; when collective danger arises, decisive action to secure defense is portrayed as urgent and legitimate. The verse also frames power (bala) as something that can be summoned or mobilized in response to dharmic responsibility toward one’s subjects.
The king and his city are overwhelmed by severe calamity. In that moment he blows upon his hand like a conch-blast, and immediately a large army/force appears—suggesting a sudden, extraordinary means of calling forth military support.