Shloka 1
Virāṭa’s Mobilization to Recover the Cattle (गोधनरक्षणार्थ विराटस्य सैन्यसमायोजनम्)
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके २० श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ३४ श्लोक हैं।) #:732:.8 #:23:.7 () हि 2 7 > जब शत्रुकी शक्ति अपने बराबर हो
vaiśampāyana uvāca | atha rājā trigartānāṃ suśarmā rathayūthapaḥ | prāptakālam idaṃ vākyam uvāca tvarito balī ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then Suśarmā, the mighty king of the Trigartas, leader of a troop of chariot-warriors, spoke in haste a proposal that was timely for the moment—setting in motion the counsel that would lead the Trigartas and the Kauravas toward a raid upon the Matsya realm.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds prudent, situation-aware counsel: a leader should speak and act in a way that fits the moment (prāptakāla), especially in matters of statecraft and conflict.
After earlier developments, the Trigarta king Suśarmā urgently presents a timely proposal; this becomes the narrative trigger for coordinated action against the Matsya kingdom.