Shloka 34
Rukmī’s Offer of Aid and Arjuna’s Refusal (रुक्मिप्रस्तावः—अर्जुनप्रत्याख्यानम्)
स्कन्धावारेण महता कुरुक्षेत्र जगाम ह
vaiśampāyana uvāca | skandhāvāreṇa mahatā kuru-kṣetraṃ jagāma ha |
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。「巨大な軍営を伴い、彼はまさしくクルクシェートラへと出立した。敵軍を苦しめることで名高いビーシュマを総大将に任じたのち、ドゥルヨーダナは高徳のブラーフマナたちに吉祥の祝詞を誦させ、牛と金貨を惜しみなく布施として与えた。ブラーフマナたちは勝利を招く祝福によって王の繁栄を寿ぎ、王は兵に囲まれ、ビーシュマを先頭に据えて兄弟とともにハスティナープラを発ち、大きな天幕と楼閣のような幕舎を携えてクルクシェートラへ進んだ。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how rulers seek public and ritual legitimacy at the threshold of war: appointing a revered leader (Bhīṣma), honoring brāhmaṇas with dakṣiṇā, and receiving auspicious blessings. Ethically, it shows the epic tension between outward rites of dharma (gifts, benedictions) and the inner moral burden of initiating a destructive conflict.
Duryodhana, after making Bhīṣma the commander-in-chief, performs auspicious arrangements—brāhmaṇas recite svasti and are rewarded with cows and gold. With the army surrounding him and Bhīṣma leading, he leaves Hastināpura with his brothers and advances to Kurukṣetra with large tents and camp equipment.