Shloka 13
कालविभाग-निरूपणं तथा युद्धव्यवस्था
Time-Reckoning and Mobilization Counsel
अथवा तानपाहाय मत्स्यो जानपदै: सह । सर्वया सेनया सार्धथ संवृतो भीमरूपया । आयात: केवल रात्रिमस्मान् योद्धुमिहागत:
athavā tān apahāya matsyo jānapadaiḥ saha | sarvayā senayā sārdham saṃvṛto bhīmarūpayā | āyātaḥ kevala-rātrim asmān yoddhum ihāgataḥ ||
അല്ലെങ്കിൽ അവരെ ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച് മത്സ്യരാജാവ് തന്റെ ദേശവാസികളോടുകൂടെ, ഭീകരരൂപമുള്ള സമസ്ത സൈന്യത്താൽ ചുറ്റപ്പെട്ടവനായി, രാത്രിയിൽ മാത്രം ഇവിടെ എത്തി—ഞങ്ങളോടു യുദ്ധം ചെയ്യുവാൻ എന്ന ഉദ്ദേശത്തോടെ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and practical weight of royal decision-making in conflict: a king may abandon one course and mobilize the full strength of the realm, even choosing the cover of night, when intent turns toward confrontation. It underscores how collective power (subjects and army) is drawn into a ruler’s chosen path.
Vaiśampāyana reports that King Matsya (Virāṭa), leaving aside certain people, arrived at night accompanied by his countrymen and surrounded by his entire formidable army, having come to fight the opposing party present there.