Shloka 7
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 65 — Duḥśāsana’s Elephant Corps Engages Arjuna; Retreat to the Śakaṭa-vyūha
रथे रथे शतं चाश्वा बलिनो हेममालिन: । अश्वे अश्वे गोसहस्रं गवां पज्चाशदाविका:,हर एक रथके साथ सोनेके हारोंसे विभूषित सौ-सौ बलवान अश्व थे। प्रत्येक अश्वके पीछे हजार-हजार गौएँ तथा एक-एक गायके पीछे पचास-पचास भेड़ें थीं
rathe rathe śataṃ cāśvā balino hemamālinaḥ | aśve aśve gosahasraṃ gavāṃ pañcāśad āvikāḥ ||
ナーラダは言った。「戦車一両ごとに、黄金の花輪で飾られた剛健な馬が百頭いた。馬一頭の後ろには牛が千頭、牛一頭の後ろには羊が五十頭続いた。」この偈は、王の戦に伴う富と糧秣の規模の途方もなさを示し、争いのただ中で集められ、誇示され、配り直される資源の倫理的重みをほのめかす。
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warfare and kingship are intertwined with vast material resources—animals, wealth, and display. Implicitly, it invites reflection on the responsibility (dharma) that accompanies power: such abundance can sustain armies and also becomes a moral ledger of acquisition, protection, and rightful distribution.
Nārada is describing an extraordinary scale of possessions accompanying chariots and horses: each chariot has a hundred strong, gold-adorned horses; each horse is followed by a thousand cows; each cow by fifty sheep. It functions as a vivid inventory-like depiction of royal or martial opulence and logistical might.