Shloka 29
Vāraṇāvata-praveśa and Jatugṛha-saṃdeha
Entry into Vāraṇāvata and Suspicion of the Lac-House
कृत्वा धनुषि ते मार्गान् रथचर्यासु चासकृत् । गजपृष्ठे<श्वपृष्ठे च नियुद्धे च महाबल:,उन महाबली राजकुमारोंने पहले धनुष-बाणके पैंतरे दिखाये। तदनन्तर रथ-संचालनके विविध मार्गों (शीघ्र ले जाना, लौटा लाना, दायें, बायें और मण्डलाकार चलाना आदि)-का अवलोकन कराया। फिर कुश्ती लड़ने तथा हाथी और घोड़ेकी पीठपर बैठकर युद्ध करनेकी चातुरीका परिचय दिया
kṛtvā dhanuṣi te mārgān rathacaryāsu cāsakṛt | gajapṛṣṭhe 'śvapṛṣṭhe ca niyuddhe ca mahābalaḥ ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra disse: “Aqueles príncipes poderosos, após demonstrarem primeiro as várias manobras da arqueria, exibiram repetidas vezes os diferentes percursos da condução do carro—avanço veloz, recuo, viradas à direita e à esquerda e o movimento em círculo. Depois mostraram sua perícia no combate corpo a corpo e na luta montados sobre elefantes e cavalos.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that royal power and warriorhood are grounded in disciplined training and technical mastery. Martial capability is presented as a cultivated duty (kṣatriya-dharma), implying that strength should be guided by skill, control, and preparedness rather than impulsive violence.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra describes a public demonstration of the princes’ military education: first archery maneuvers, then advanced chariot-driving patterns, and finally proficiency in close combat and mounted fighting from elephants and horses.