Shloka 8
Omens in the Kuru Host and Droṇa’s Recognition of Arjuna (क्लीबवेषधारी पार्थ-परिज्ञानम्)
गावो राष्ट्रस्य कुरुभि: काल्यन्ते नो बृहन्नले । ता विजेतुं मम भ्राता प्रयास्यति धनुर्धर:,“बृहन्नले! हमारे राष्ट्रकी गौओंको कौरव हाँककर लिये जाते हैं; अतः उन्हें जीतनेके लिये मेरे भैया धनुष धारण करके जानेवाले हैं
gāvo rāṣṭrasya kurubhiḥ kālyante no bṛhannale | tā vijetuṃ mama bhrātā prayāsyati dhanurdharaḥ ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。「おお、ブリハンナラーよ。クル族の戦士たちが、わが国の牛の群れを追い立てて奪ってゆく。ゆえに我が兄—弓を執る者—は、それを討ち破って取り返すため出立するのです。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights rājadhrama/kṣatriya-dharma: a ruler’s side must protect the kingdom’s resources and people from unjust appropriation. Recovering stolen cattle is presented as a rightful, duty-bound response rather than mere aggression.
The Kurus have seized and are driving away the cattle belonging to Virāṭa’s realm. Addressing Bṛhannalā (Arjuna in disguise), the speaker states that the prince’s ‘brother’—i.e., the prince himself as a bowman—is going out to reclaim the cattle, setting up the ensuing confrontation.