Shloka 31
Śānti Parva, Adhyāya 52 — Bhīṣma’s Humility Before Kṛṣṇa and the Granting of Boons
सुवर्णनिर्मित विचित्र कूबरोंवाले रथों, पर्वताकार मतवाले हाथियों, गरुड़के समान तीव्रगतिसे चलनेवाले घोड़ों तथा हाथमें धुनष-बाण आदि लिये हुए पैदल सैनिकोंसे युक्त वह विशाल सेना रथोंके आगे और पीछे भी बहुत दूरतक फैलकर वैसी ही शोभा पाने लगी, जैसे ऋक्षवान् पर्वतके पास पहुँचकर पूर्व और पश्चिम दिशामें भी प्रवाहित होनेवाली महानदी नर्मदा सुशोभित होती है
vaiśampāyana uvāca | suvarṇa-nirmita-vicitra-kūbaravān rathān, parvatākāra-matavān hastīn, garuḍa-sama-tīvra-gati-calān aśvān tathā haste dhanuḥ-bāṇādi-dhṛtān padātīn yuktā sā viśālā senā rathānām agre paścād api bahu-dūraṁ vistṛtya tathāiva śobhāṁ prāpa, yathā ṛkṣavān-parvata-samīpaṁ prāpya pūrva-paścima-diśayoḥ api pravahantī mahānadī narmadā suśobhitā bhavati ||
सुवर्णनिर्मितैर्विचित्रकूबरै रथैः पर्वताकारैर्मदगजैः । गरुडसदृशवेगैश्च हयैर्धनुर्बाणधरैश्च पदातिभिः ॥ युक्ता सा महती सेना रथानां पुरतः पश्चाच्च दूरं प्रससार । ऋक्षवद्गिरिसमीपे पूर्वपश्चिमतोऽपि प्रवहन्ती महानदी नर्मदेव सुसंविभाति ॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the splendor and scale of military power while subtly placing it within a dharmic frame: outward magnificence—golden chariots, mighty elephants, swift horses—has moral value only insofar as it is directed by righteous intent and disciplined conduct. The epic often uses such descriptions to contrast external force with the inner governance of dharma.
Vaiśampāyana describes a massive army composed of chariots, elephants, cavalry, and infantry. The host stretches far ahead and behind, and its beauty is compared to the river Narmadā spreading and shining near Mount Ṛkṣavān as it flows toward the east and west.