Shloka 29
पाण्डवसेनानायकाभिषेकः तथा बलरामागमन-उपदेशः | Appointment of Pandava Commanders and Balarama’s Counsel
त्रयो गुल्मा गणस्त्वासीद् गणास्त्वयुतशो5भवन् | दुर्योधनस्य सेनासु योत्स्यमाना: प्रहारिण:,तीन गुल्मोंका एक गण होता है। दुर्योधनकी सेनाओंमें युद्ध करनेवाले पैदल योद्धाओंके ऐसे-ऐसे गण दस हजारसे भी अधिक थे
trayo gulmā gaṇas tv āsīd gaṇās tv ayutaśo 'bhavan | duryodhanasya senāsu yotsyamānāḥ prahāriṇaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Tiga gulma membentuk satu “gaṇa”. Dalam bala tentera Duryodhana, unit-unit gaṇa seperti itu—pasukan infantri yang keras menghentam, sedia bertempur—wujud hingga berpuluh-puluh ribu. Naratif ini menegaskan besarnya mobilisasi dan derasnya arus menuju perang, apabila bilangan dan organisasi mula menenggelamkan sikap menahan diri serta usaha perdamaian.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how organized strength and massive numbers can accelerate the inevitability of war; ethically, it hints at the danger of letting power, preparation, and pride override efforts toward peace and dharmic restraint.
Vaiśampāyana describes the structure and immense scale of Duryodhana’s forces: three gulmas form one gaṇa, and there are tens of thousands of such gaṇas of battle-ready, striking foot-soldiers within his armies.