Shloka 23
Virāṭa’s Mobilization to Recover the Cattle (गोधनरक्षणार्थ विराटस्य सैन्यसमायोजनम्)
यथोद्देश॑ च गच्छाम: सहितास्तत्र कौरवै: । सुशर्मा च यथोद्दिष्टं देशं यातु महारथ: । त्रिगर्ती: सहितो राजा समग्रबलवाहन:,ये यान्तु सहितास्तत्र विराटनगरं प्रति । क्षिप्रं गोपान् समासाद्य गृह्नन्तु विपुलं धनम् “तत्रिगर्त-सैनिक एक साथ मिलकर तुरंत विराट-नगरपर चढ़ाई करें और पहले ग्वालोंके पास पहुँचकर वहाँके बढ़े हुए गोधनपर अधिकार कर लें
yathoddeśaṁ ca gacchāmaḥ sahitās tatra kauravaiḥ | suśarmā ca yathoddiṣṭaṁ deśaṁ yātu mahārathaḥ | trigartīḥ sahito rājā samagrabalavāhanaḥ ye yāntu sahitās tatra virāṭanagaraṁ prati | kṣipraṁ gopān samāsādya gṛhṇantu vipulaṁ dhanam |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Marilah kita bergerak ke sana menurut rancangan, bersama para Kaurava. Dan biarlah pahlawan kereta agung Suśarmā pergi ke wilayah yang telah ditetapkan baginya. Biarlah raja Trigarta, bersama orang-orangnya, dengan bala tentera dan kenderaan yang lengkap berhimpun, mara serentak menuju kota Virāṭa. Setelah segera sampai kepada para penggembala, rampaslah kekayaan yang melimpah di sana—yakni kawanan lembu yang besar.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how political ambition and military planning can target economic lifelines (cattle/wealth). Ethically, it frames a dharmic tension: organized power seeks gain through coercion, foreshadowing consequences when wealth is pursued without rightful claim.
Instructions are being laid out for a coordinated move: Suśarmā and the Trigarta forces are directed to march toward Virāṭa’s city and swiftly reach the cowherds to seize the large cattle-wealth, as part of a planned raid involving the Kauravas.