Shloka 16
धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation
भूय एवाभ्यवर्तन्त शतशो5थ सहस्रश:ः । गन्धर्वभूता पृथिवी क्षणेन समपद्यत
bhūya evābhyavartanta śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ | gandharvabhūtā pṛthivī kṣaṇena samapadyata ||
അവർ വീണ്ടും വീണ്ടും തിരികെ പാഞ്ഞുവന്നു—നൂറുകളായി, പിന്നെ ആയിരങ്ങളായി; ഒരു ക്ഷണത്തിൽ ഭൂമി ഗന്ധർവന്മാരാൽ നിറഞ്ഞ് ഗന്ധർവമയമായതുപോലെ ആയി.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how swiftly circumstances can change and how overwhelming collective force can reshape perception of reality; it cautions the listener to recognize the power of sudden upheaval and the need for steadiness amid tumult.
A large group returns or rushes in again, growing from hundreds to thousands, and their presence becomes so pervasive that the earth is described as instantly appearing ‘Gandharva-like’—crowded, resounding, and transformed by their sudden mass arrival.