Shloka 16
पाण्डवसेनानायकाभिषेकः तथा बलरामागमन-उपदेशः | Appointment of Pandava Commanders and Balarama’s Counsel
यथा रथास्तथा नागा बद्धकक्षा: स्वलंकृता: । बभूवु: सप्तपुरुषा रत्नवन्त इवाद्रय:,जिस प्रकार रथ सजाये गये थे, उसी प्रकार हाथियोंको भी स्वर्णमालाओंसे सुसज्जित किया गया था। उन सबको रस्सोंसे कसा गया था। उनपर सात-सात पुरुष बैठे हुए थे, जिससे वे हाथी रत्नयुक्त पर्वतोंके समान जान पड़ते थे
yathā rathās tathā nāgā baddhakakṣāḥ svalankṛtāḥ | babhūvuḥ saptapuruṣā ratnavanta ivādrayaḥ ||
វៃសម្បាយនៈបាននិយាយថា៖ «ដូចរបៀបដែលរថត្រូវបានរៀបចំ និងតុបតែងដែរ ដំរីទាំងឡាយក៏ត្រូវបានសម្រស់ដោយមាលាសុវណ្ណ ហើយចងក្រវាត់រឹតត្បិត។ លើដំរីមួយៗ មានបុរសប្រាំពីរនាក់អង្គុយ ធ្វើឲ្យវាហាក់ដូចភ្នំដែលបំពាក់ដោយរតនៈ»។
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily conveys the epic’s attention to order, discipline, and preparedness: power (elephants, chariots) is not merely displayed but carefully secured and organized. The jewel-mountain simile underscores how martial grandeur can appear awe-inspiring, reminding readers that war is preceded by deliberate human arrangement and intent.
The narrator describes the mustering and outfitting of forces: chariots are decorated, elephants are similarly adorned and tightly harnessed, and each elephant carries seven men. The scene emphasizes the scale and magnificence of the army’s preparations.