Shloka 5
सेनासमागमः — The Convergence of Armies
फरसे, भिन्दिपाल, शूल, तोमर, मुद्गर, परिघ, यष्टि, पाश, निर्मल तलवार, खड््गः, धनुषसमूह तथा भाँति-भाँतिके बाण आदि अस्त्र-शस्त्र तेलमें धुले होनेके कारण चमचमा रहे थे, जिनसे वह सेना सुशोभित हो रही थी ।।
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca | tasya meghaprakāśasya sauvarṇaḥ śobhitasya ca | babhūva rūpaṃ sainyasya meghasyeva savidyutaḥ ||
ఆ సేన రూపం మేఘసమానంగా నల్లగా కనిపించెను; స్వర్ణాభరణాల కాంతితో అలంకృతమై అది విద్యుత్తుతో కూడిన మేఘగర్భంలా అనిపించెను.
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war gathers momentum through organized power and dazzling display: the army’s splendor (gold, polished weapons) coexists with its ominous mass (cloud-dark), suggesting that outward brilliance can accompany impending violence and should be viewed with moral seriousness.
The narrator describes the assembled force as cloud-like and dark in bulk, yet flashing with golden ornaments like lightning in a storm-cloud—an image emphasizing the army’s scale, readiness, and intimidating beauty as the conflict approaches.