Shloka 7
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 65 — Duḥśāsana’s Elephant Corps Engages Arjuna; Retreat to the Śakaṭa-vyūha
रथे रथे शतं चाश्वा बलिनो हेममालिन: । अश्वे अश्वे गोसहस्रं गवां पज्चाशदाविका:,हर एक रथके साथ सोनेके हारोंसे विभूषित सौ-सौ बलवान अश्व थे। प्रत्येक अश्वके पीछे हजार-हजार गौएँ तथा एक-एक गायके पीछे पचास-पचास भेड़ें थीं
rathe rathe śataṃ cāśvā balino hemamālinaḥ | aśve aśve gosahasraṃ gavāṃ pañcāśad āvikāḥ ||
ନାରଦ କହିଲେ—ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ରଥ ସହ ସୁବର୍ଣ୍ଣମାଳାରେ ଭୂଷିତ ଶତ ଶତ ବଳବାନ ଅଶ୍ୱ ଥିଲେ। ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ଅଶ୍ୱ ପଛେ ହଜାର ହଜାର ଗାଈ, ଏବଂ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ଗାଈ ପଛେ ପଚାଶ ପଚାଶ ଭେଡ଼ା ଥିଲା। ଏହା ରାଜସମ୍ପଦ ଓ ରସଦର ଅପାରତା ଦେଖାଇ, ଯୁଦ୍ଧସାଧନ ସଂଗ୍ରହ-ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନର ନୈତିକ ଭାରକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ସୂଚାଏ।
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warfare and kingship are intertwined with vast material resources—animals, wealth, and display. Implicitly, it invites reflection on the responsibility (dharma) that accompanies power: such abundance can sustain armies and also becomes a moral ledger of acquisition, protection, and rightful distribution.
Nārada is describing an extraordinary scale of possessions accompanying chariots and horses: each chariot has a hundred strong, gold-adorned horses; each horse is followed by a thousand cows; each cow by fifty sheep. It functions as a vivid inventory-like depiction of royal or martial opulence and logistical might.