Shloka 14
सेनासमागमः — The Convergence of Armies
युयुत्समाना: कुरुभि: पाण्डवान् समहर्षयन् । महात्मा पाण्डवोंके पास इधर-उधरसे सात अक्षौहिणी सेनाएँ एकत्र हुई थीं, जो नाना प्रकारकी ध्वजा-पताकाओंसे व्याप्त दिखायी देती थीं। ये सब सेनाएँ कौरवोंसे युद्ध करनेकी इच्छा रखकर पाण्डवोंका हर्ष बढ़ाती थीं ।।
yuyutsamānāḥ kurubhiḥ pāṇḍavān samaharṣayan | mahātmā pāṇḍavānāṃ pāśve 'tataḥ sarvataḥ sapta akṣauhiṇyo balāni samāgatāni, nānāvidha-dhvajapatākābhiḥ samāvṛtāni dṛśyante sma | tāḥ sarvāḥ senāḥ kauravaiḥ saha yuddhum icchantyaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ harṣaṃ vardhayanti sma ||
tathaiva dhārtarāṣṭrasya harṣaṃ samabhivardhayan babhau balam anādhṛṣyaṃ karṇikāravanaṃ yathā | evaṃ rājā bhagadatto duryodhanasya harṣaṃ vardhayann ekām akṣauhiṇīṃ senāṃ prādāt | suvarṇa-varṇa-śarīraiś cīna-kirāta-deśīyaiḥ yodhakaiḥ paripūrṇā bhagadattasya durdharṣā senā vikasita-karṇikāravanavat pratibhāti sma ||
俱盧（Kuru）との戦いを望む軍勢は、集い来てパーンダヴァ（Pāṇḍava）らを大いに歓喜させた。高き魂のパーンダヴァの周囲には、四方より七つのアクシャウヒニー（akṣauhiṇī）が集結し、さまざまな旗印と幡で一面を覆うかのように見えた。いずれの軍もカウラヴァ（Kaurava）と戦わんと志し、パーンダヴァの自信と喜びを増し加えた。 同じく、ドリタラーシュトラ（Dhṛtarāṣṭra）の子、ドゥルヨーダナ（Duryodhana）の歓びを膨らませるため、攻め難き軍勢が、花咲くカルニカーラ（karṇikāra）の林のごとく燦然と現れた。すなわちバガダッタ王（Bhagadatta）はドゥルヨーダナの気勢を高め、一つのアクシャウヒニーを授けたのである。支那（Cīna）とキラタ（Kirāta）の地の戦士で満ち、黄金の輝きを放つバガダッタの猛軍は、明るく咲き誇るカルニカーラの森のようであった。
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how war is propelled not only by claims of right but by accumulating alliances and the emotional intoxication of strength. The ethical tension is implicit: joy and confidence rise with military support, yet such exhilaration can deepen commitment to a destructive conflict, testing discernment (viveka) and dharma.
Allied forces gather around the Pāṇḍavas—seven akṣauhiṇīs—raising their morale and readiness to fight the Kauravas. In parallel, Bhagadatta strengthens Duryodhana by contributing one akṣauhiṇī, described as brilliant and formidable, filled with Cīna and Kirāta warriors, likened to a glowing karṇikāra grove.