Shloka 27
Rukmī’s Offer of Aid and Arjuna’s Refusal (रुक्मिप्रस्तावः—अर्जुनप्रत्याख्यानम्)
ततो भेरीश्व॒ शड्खांश्व शतशो5थ सहस्रश: । वादयामासुरव्यग्रा वादका राजशासनात्,तदनन्तर बाजा बजानेवालोंने राजाकी आज्ञासे निर्भय होकर सैकड़ों और हजारों भेरियों तथा शंखोंको बजाया
tato bherīś ca śaṅkhāṃś ca śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ | vādayāmāsur avyagrā vādakā rājaśāsanāt ||
Kemudian, atas titah raja, para pemuzik—tanpa ragu dan tanpa gentar—meniup sangkakala dan memalu ratusan malah ribuan gendang perang. Maka terdengarlah ke seluruh penjuru pengisytiharan kuasa diraja, menandai saat umum yang menentukan dan dorongan yang kian memuncak menuju konflik yang bakal tiba.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the force of legitimate authority in public life: a king’s command can mobilize society swiftly, and the composed obedience of officials and performers reflects ordered governance—an aspect of rājadharma—even as events move toward war.
After a key development, musicians, acting on the king’s order, loudly sound vast numbers of drums and conches. This functions as a public signal—an announcement and rallying call—marking heightened readiness and the escalation of the political-military situation.