Shloka 1636
सेनासमागमः — The Convergence of Armies
दुर्योधनमुपायातावक्षौहिण्या पृथक् पृथक् । कुरुनन्दन! इसी प्रकार शूरवीर भूरिश्रवा तथा राजा शल्य पृथक्-पृथक् एक-एक अक्षौहिणी सेना साथ लेकर दुर्योधनके पास आये
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
duryodhanam upāyātāv akṣauhiṇyā pṛthak pṛthak |
kurunandana! evaṃprakāraṃ śūravīraḥ bhūriśravā tathā rājā śalyaḥ pṛthak-pṛthak eka-eka akṣauhiṇī-senāṃ sātha kṛtvā duryodhanasya samīpam ājagmuḥ ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。ドゥルヨーダナのもとへは、一アクシャウヒニーの兵力がそれぞれ別々に赴いた。同じく、クルの末裔よ、勇将ブーリシュラヴァとシャリヤ王もまた別々にドゥルヨーダナのもとへ来たり、各々が満ちた一アクシャウヒニーの軍を携えていた。
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how major conflicts are propelled by incremental commitments—leaders and warriors choosing sides and supplying resources. Ethically, it points to the gravity of alliance: joining a cause is not neutral, because it strengthens the capacity for harm and binds one to the consequences of the war.
As the war approaches, prominent warriors and kings arrive to support Duryodhana. Bhūriśravā and King Śalya come separately, each bringing an entire akṣauhiṇī army, indicating the consolidation of the Kaurava coalition.