Shloka 30
सेनासमागमः — The Convergence of Armies
तथा रोहितकारण्यं मरुभूमिश्न केवला । अहिच्छत्रं कालकूटं गज़ाकूलं च भारत,इसलिये भारत! पंचनद प्रदेश, सम्पूर्ण कुरुजांगल देश, रोहितकवन (रोहतक), समस्त मरुभूमि, अहिच्छत्र, कालकूट, गंगातट, वारण, वाटधान तथा यामुनपर्वत--यह प्रचुर धन- धान्यसे सम्पन्न सुविस्तृत प्रदेश कौरवोंकी सेनासे भलीभाँति घिर गया
tathā rohitakāraṇyaṁ marubhūmiś ca kevalā | ahicchatraṁ kālakūṭaṁ gaṅgākūlaṁ ca bhārata ||
Wika ni Vaiśaṃpāyana: “Gayundin, O Bhārata, ang gubat ng Rohitaka, ang buong pook-disyerto, Ahicchatra, Kālakūṭa, at ang mga pampang ng Gaṅgā—ang malalawak at masaganang lupain na ito’y lubusang napalibutan at napagtibay sa kamay ng hukbong Kaurava.”
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how political power expresses itself through control of territory: securing routes and regions becomes a prerequisite for conflict. Ethically, it foreshadows the widening social cost of war—prosperous lands and ordinary populations become enclosed within military designs.
Vaiśaṃpāyana continues a geographical listing of regions brought under Kaurava military control. He names Rohitaka forest, desert tracts, Ahicchatra, Kālakūṭa, and the Gaṅgā’s banks as areas effectively surrounded/secured by the Kaurava forces as preparations intensify.