Shloka 20

पाण्डवसेनानायकाभिषेकः तथा बलरामागमन-उपदेशः | Appointment of Pandava Commanders and Balarama’s Counsel

Devanagari script

असंग्राहा: सुसम्पन्ना हेमभाण्डपरिच्छदा: । अनेकशतसाहमस्रा: सर्वे सादिवशे स्थिता:,वे घोड़े उछल-कूद मचाने आदि दोषोंसे रहित होनेके कारण सदा अपने सवारोंके वशमें रहते थे। उन्हें अच्छी शिक्षा मिली थी। वे सुनहरे साजोंसे सुसज्जित थे। उनकी संख्या कई लाख थी

Transliteration

asaṅgrāhāḥ susampannā hemabhāṇḍaparicchadāḥ | anekaśatasāhasrāḥ sarve sādīvaśe sthitāḥ ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。「その馬たちはよく馴らされ、荒ぶる癖という過ちを免れ、すぐれて鍛えられていた。黄金の馬具で飾られ、その数は幾十万にも及んだが、いずれも騎手の完全な統御のもとにあった。」

Word by Word

असंग्राहाःunrestive; not hard to control

सुसम्पन्नाःwell-trained; well-endowed

हेमभाण्डपरिच्छदाःhaving golden trappings/equipment

अनेकशतसाहस्राःnumbering many hundreds of thousands

सर्वेall

सादिवशेunder the rider's control

स्थिताःwere situated/remained

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

horses

riders (sādī)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined strength: true military power is not mere numbers or ornamentation, but training, restraint, and reliable control—resources that obey rightful command rather than becoming a danger through unruliness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a vast cavalry force: the horses are well-trained, free from troublesome behavior, richly caparisoned with golden gear, and fully obedient to their riders—emphasizing readiness for the impending conflict.