Shloka 17
कुरुक्षेत्रे सेनानिवेशवृत्तान्तः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra Questions Saṃjaya on the Deployed Armies
प्राविशद् भवनं राजन् पाण्डवानां हलायुध: । सहाक्र्रप्रभृतिभिर्गदसाम्बोद्धवादिभि:
prāviśad bhavanaṃ rājan pāṇḍavānāṃ halāyudhaḥ | sahākraprabhṛtibhir gadasāmbo ddhavādibhiḥ ||
प्राविशद् भवनं राजन् पाण्डवानां हलायुधः । सहाक्रूरप्रभृतिभिर्गदसाम्बोद्धवादिभिः ॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a crisis nears war, dharma is served by timely presence of respected elders and wise counselors. Their arrival symbolizes the duty to attempt restraint, dialogue, and right conduct before violence becomes unavoidable.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates that Balarāma (Halāyudha) comes to the Pāṇḍavas’ residence, accompanied by prominent Yādavas such as Gada, Sāmba, and Uddhava, indicating an important visit connected with counsel and the unfolding political tension.