Shloka 13
भीष्म-द्रोणादिभिः पाण्डवसेनाक्षयकाल-निर्णयः | Time-estimates for the depletion of the Pāṇḍava forces
Bhīṣma–Droṇa council
न विशेषं विजानन्ति पुरस्य शिबिरस्य वा | कुशला अपि राजेन्द्र नरा नगरवासिन:,भारत! दुर्योधनने पहलेसे ही ऐसा निवासस्थान बनवा रखा था, जो दूसरे हस्तिनापुरकी भाँति सजा हुआ था। राजेन्द्र! नगरमें निवास करनेवाले चतुर मनुष्य भी उस शिविर तथा हस्तिनापुर नामक नगरमें क्या अन्तर है, यह नहीं समझ पाते थे
na viśeṣaṃ vijānanti purasya śibirasya vā | kuśalā api rājendra narā nagaravāsinaḥ, bhārata |
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Ó melhor dos reis, nem mesmo os homens da cidade—embora hábeis e perspicazes—conseguiam perceber qualquer diferença entre a cidade e o acampamento. Tão perfeitamente Duryodhana havia preparado de antemão uma residência, adornada como outra Hastināpura, que o acampamento parecia indistinguível de uma verdadeira cidade.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how power can manufacture appearances: a well-constructed façade can blur the line between what is temporary (a camp) and what is established (a city). Ethically, it cautions that outward splendor and organization do not necessarily indicate legitimacy or righteousness.
Vaiśampāyana describes Duryodhana’s prior preparations: he had a camp arranged and decorated so thoroughly—like another Hastināpura—that even experienced city-dwellers could not tell whether they were seeing a camp or a city.