Shloka 22
धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation
उच्चक्रुशुश्न कौरव्या गन्धर्वान् प्रेक्ष्य पीडितान् | तत्पश्चात् सारे गन्धर्व संगठित हो कौरवोंके साथ भिड़ गये। उस समय उनमें घमासान युद्ध होने लगा, जो रोंगटे खड़े कर देनेवाला था। तदनन्तर कौरवोंके बाणोंसे पीड़ित हो गन्धर्व कुछ ढीले पड़ने लगे और उन्हें कष्ट पाते देख कौरव-योद्धा जोर-जोरसे गरजने लगे || २०-२१ $ || गन्धर्वास्त्रासितान् दृष्टवा चित्रसेनो हामर्षण:
vaiśampāyana uvāca | uccakruśuś ca kauravyā gandharvān prekṣya pīḍitān |
Vaiśampāyana said: Seeing the Gandharvas hard-pressed and suffering, the Kaurava warriors raised loud cries. In the wake of this fierce clash, the Kauravas’ confidence swelled as their arrows seemed to gain the upper hand, while the Gandharvas, though celestial, appeared momentarily shaken—setting the stage for a renewed and more determined counterattack.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how apparent advantage in battle can inflate pride and provoke louder triumphalism, yet such confidence is unstable; ethical reflection in the Mahābhārata often warns that arrogance and aggression invite reversal and suffering.
During the forest episode, the Kauravas see the Gandharvas suffering under attack and shout loudly in excitement and bravado, as the fight intensifies and momentum seems to shift—foreshadowing a strong Gandharva response led by their chief.