Shloka 4
इसमें न कोई अत्यन्त बूढ़ा है, न बालक है, न अत्यन्त दुबला है और न अत्यन्त मोटा ही है। इसमें शीघ्र कार्य करनेवाले, प्राय: ऊँचे कदके लोग हैं। इस सेनाका प्रत्येक सैनिक सारखान् योद्धा और नीरोग है ।।
sañjaya uvāca |
na cātra kaścid atijīrṇaḥ, na bālaḥ, nātyaśīrṇaḥ, nātyasthūlaś ca vidyate |
śīghrakāryāḥ prāya uccakāyā narāḥ |
asyāḥ senāyāḥ pratyekaḥ sainikaḥ sāra-khān yoddhā nīrogaś ca |
ātta-saṃnāha-śastraṃ ca bahu-śastra-parigraham |
asi-yuddhe niyuddhe ca gadā-yuddhe ca kovidam ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Dalam bala tentera ini tiada yang terlalu tua, tiada kanak-kanak; tiada yang terlampau kurus dan tiada juga yang terlampau gemuk. Kebanyakannya lelaki tinggi, pantas dalam pelaksanaan. Setiap askar ialah pahlawan berpengalaman dan sihat tubuhnya. Semuanya lengkap berzirah dan bersenjata, serta memiliki simpanan besar pelbagai jenis senjata. Setiap pejuang mahir dalam pertarungan pedang, bergusti jarak dekat, dan bertempur dengan gada.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the kṣatriya ideal of disciplined preparedness: a force is ethically and strategically effective when its members are fit, properly equipped, and trained in multiple modes of combat—suggesting that responsibility in war includes competence, readiness, and order rather than mere aggression.
Sañjaya is reporting to Dhṛtarāṣṭra about the composition and capability of the army: he emphasizes the soldiers’ physical fitness, health, full armament, and expertise in sword-fighting, close combat, and mace-fighting, thereby conveying the host’s formidable morale and preparedness.