Shloka 7
Kṛṣṇasya asāṃnidhya-kāraṇaṃ — Śālva–Soubha-vṛttāntaḥ
Why Kṛṣṇa was absent; the Śālva and Saubha account
सोष्टिका भरतश्रेष्ठ सभेरीपणवानका । सतोमराड्कुशा राजन् सशतघ्नीकलाड्ूला,अस्त्रोंसे भरे हुए मिट्टी और चमड़ेके असंख्य पात्र रखे गये थे। भरतश्रेष्ठ! ढोल, नगारे और मृदंग आदि जुझाऊ बाजे भी बज रहे थे। राजन्! तोमर, अंकुश, शतघ्नी, लांगल, भुशुण्डी, पत्थरके गोले, अन्यान्य अस्त्र-शस्त्र, फरसे, बहुत-सी सुदृढ़ ढालें और गोला- बारूदसे भरी हुई तोपें यथास्थान तैयार रखी गयी थीं
soṣṭikā bharataśreṣṭha sabherīpaṇavānakā | satomarāṅkuśā rājan saśataghnīkalāṅgalā ||
Vāyu said: “O best of the Bharatas, there were also oṣṭikā-implements, along with martial music—bherīs, paṇavas, and ānakas—resounding. O king, tomaras and aṅkuśas were kept ready, as well as śataghnīs and plough-like weapons (lāṅgalas).” The scene evokes a fortified, fully armed preparation for conflict, where the noise of war-instruments and the careful arrangement of weapons signal an imminent battle and the grave ethical weight of violence undertaken with forethought.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily functions as vivid narration, but it implicitly highlights the moral gravity of warfare: organized violence is not accidental—it is prepared, announced, and enabled by rulers and their resources, which underscores responsibility and the ethical burden of choosing conflict.
Vāyu describes a war-ready setting: battle-drums are sounding and multiple weapons—javelins, goads, śataghnīs, and plough-like arms—are arranged and kept prepared, indicating imminent or ongoing military mobilization.