Shloka 12
Kaurava Mobilization at Kurukṣetra (Duryodhana Orders War Preparations) / कुरुक्षेत्रे धार्तराष्ट्र-सैन्यसज्जा
वयसा शाम्त्रतो धैर्यात् कुलेनाभिजनेन च । ह्वीमान् बलान्वित: श्रीमान् सर्वशास्त्रविशारद:
vayasā śāstrato dhairyāt kulenābhijanena ca | hrīmān balānvitaḥ śrīmān sarvaśāstraviśāradaḥ ||
तो वयाच्या परिपक्वतेने युक्त, शास्त्रप्रमाणात स्थित, धैर्याने स्थिर, कुल व अभिजनाने विभूषित होता. लज्जाशील, बलवान, श्रीसमृद्ध आणि सर्वशास्त्रविशारद—धर्मधारणेस योग्य असा नेता होता.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethical portrait of ideal authority: true eminence is not merely power or birth, but a balanced excellence—maturity, scriptural grounding, courage, noble conduct, modest restraint, strength, prosperity, and broad learning—supporting righteous leadership (dharma) amid conflict.
Vaiśaṃpāyana is describing a prominent figure by listing his qualifications and virtues, using a formal encomium to establish credibility and moral stature before subsequent events in the Udyoga Parva’s tense pre-war negotiations and preparations.