Shloka 24
Adhyāya 152: Kaurava-sainyavibhāgaḥ
Division and Standardization of the Kaurava Host
तदुत्सव इवोदग्रं सम्प्रहृष्टनरावृतम् । नगर धार्तराष्ट्स्य भारतासीत् समाकुलम्
tad utsava ivodagraṃ samprahṛṣṭa-narāvṛtam | nagaraṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya bhāratāsīt samākulam, janamejaya ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。おおジャナメージャヤよ、ダーリタラーシュトラ（カウラヴァ）らの都は、人々で溢れかえり騒然となった—まるで祭礼が催されているかのように高揚し、喜びと興奮に満ちた者たちで埋め尽くされたのである。この世間のざわめきは、ドゥルヨーダナの大義がいかに容易く群衆の情を煽り、政治の野望を祝祭の狂熱へと変え、やがて戦へと至る倫理の盲目を予兆するかを物語っている。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how collective excitement can mask ethical discernment: a city can celebrate political momentum as if it were a festival, even when that momentum is tied to pride and impending conflict. It cautions that popular enthusiasm is not the same as dharma.
Vaiśampāyana describes the Kaurava capital becoming crowded and noisy, with people delighted and stirred up—like during a festival—indicating heightened public agitation around Duryodhana’s camp and the escalating crisis that will lead toward war.