Virāṭa’s Mobilization to Recover the Cattle (गोधनरक्षणार्थ विराटस्य सैन्यसमायोजनम्)
कौरवै: सह संगत्य त्रिगर्तैश्न विशाम्पते । गास्तस्यापहरामोउद्य सर्वैश्वैव सुसंहता:,“महाराज! कौरवोंके साथ संगठित त्रिगर्तदेशीय सैनिकोंकी सहायतासे हम सब मिलकर विराटकी गौओंको हर लेंगे
kauravaiḥ saha saṅgatya trigartaiś ca viśāmpate | gās tasya apaharāmo ’dya sarvaiś caiva susaṃhatāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Ó senhor dos povos, tendo-nos aliado aos Kauravas e aos guerreiros Trigarta, todos nós—firmemente unidos—hoje mesmo levaremos o gado do rei Virāṭa.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse underscores how collective resolve and political alliances can be used to execute ethically questionable acts. A cattle-raid—an attack on livelihood and royal wealth—is presented as a strategic plan, inviting reflection on the difference between power-backed action and dharmic action.
An allied force—Kauravas together with Trigarta warriors—declares its intention to raid and seize King Virāṭa’s cattle that very day, setting in motion the conflict that will draw Virāṭa’s side into response and escalate the episode’s martial events.