Shloka 153
बभौ बलमनाधृष्यं कर्णिकारवनं यथा । इसी प्रकार राजा भगदत्तने दुर्योधनका हर्ष बढ़ाते हुए उसे एक अक्षौहिणी सेना प्रदान की। सुनहरे शरीरवाले चीन और किरात देशके योद्धाओंसे भरी हुई भगदत्तकी दुर्धर्ष सेना (खिले हुए) कनेरके जंगल-सी जान पड़ती थी
babhau balam anādhṛṣyaṁ karṇikāravanaṁ yathā |
Vaiśaṃpāyana disse: Aquele exército resplandecia com um poder invencível, como uma floresta de karṇikāra em flor. No contexto, Bhagadatta—para elevar a confiança de Duryodhana—ofereceu uma akṣauhiṇī completa, um contingente imenso. Repleta de guerreiros das terras de Cīna e Kirāta e radiante em corpos e armaduras douradas, a formidável hoste de Bhagadatta parecia um luminoso bosque de karṇikāra: belo de ver, mas sinistro em sua força, à medida que a guerra ganhava ímpeto.
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a vivid simile to show how outward splendor and massed power can be both alluring and dangerous. It highlights how political alliances and the boosting of morale can accelerate a march toward war, raising implicit ethical questions about using strength and beauty in the service of adharma-driven ambition.
As the Kurukṣetra war approaches, Bhagadatta supports Duryodhana by providing a full akṣauhiṇī. His force—associated with Cīna and Kirāta warriors and described as golden and formidable—is compared to a blooming karṇikāra forest, emphasizing its striking appearance and intimidating strength.