Shloka 196
Adhyāya 152: Kaurava-sainyavibhāgaḥ
Division and Standardization of the Kaurava Host
काज्चनाड्डददीप्तांश्व चन्दनागुरुभूषितान् । तदनन्तर वहाँ आये हुए सब नरेश राजा दुर्योधनकी यह आज्ञा सुनकर रोषावेशसे परिपूर्ण हो चन्दन और अगुरुसे चर्चित तथा सोनेके भुजबंदोंसे प्रकाशित अपनी परिघके समान मोटी भुजाओंका धीरे-धीरे स्पर्श करते हुए बहुमूल्य आसनोंसे उठकर खड़े हो गये
vaiśampāyana uvāca | kāñcanāḍḍadadīptāṃś ca candanāgurubhūṣitān | tadanantaraṃ vahāṃ āye hue sab nareśa rājā duryodhanakī yaha ājñā sunkar roṣāveśase paripūrṇa ho candana aura aguruse carcita tathā soneke bhujabaṃdoṃse prakāśita apanī parighake samāna moṭī bhujāoṃkā dhīre-dhīre sparśa karate hue bahumūlya āsanoṃse uṭhakar khaṛe ho gaye ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Kemudian, semua raja yang telah tiba di sana, setelah mendengar perintah Raja Duryodhana, dipenuhi gelora amarah. Disapukan cendana dan agaru, serta berkilau dengan gelang lengan emas, mereka perlahan-lahan meraba lengan mereka yang tebal bagaikan belantan, lalu bangkit dari tempat duduk yang mahal dan berdiri tegak—suatu peragaan lahiriah kesiagaan dan keagresifan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how anger and wounded prestige in a royal court can rapidly turn counsel into confrontation. External splendor—perfumes, gold ornaments, costly seats—does not prevent ethical collapse; restraint (dama) and measured speech are implied as the missing virtues when leaders and allies respond to commands with rage.
After Duryodhana issues an order, the assembled kings—adorned with sandal and agaru and wearing golden armlets—become enraged. They rise from their expensive seats and touch their thick, weapon-like arms, a gesture of readiness to act, indicating a shift toward aggressive action in the unfolding political crisis.