Shloka 22
धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation
उच्चक्रुशुश्न कौरव्या गन्धर्वान् प्रेक्ष्य पीडितान् | तत्पश्चात् सारे गन्धर्व संगठित हो कौरवोंके साथ भिड़ गये। उस समय उनमें घमासान युद्ध होने लगा
vaiśampāyana uvāca | uccakruśuś ca kauravyā gandharvān prekṣya pīḍitān |
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Nang makita ng mga mandirigmang Kaurava na ang mga Gandharva ay naiipit at nagdurusa, sila’y sumigaw nang malalakas. Pagkaraan ng marahas na sagupaan, lalo pang lumaki ang tiwala ng Kaurava, sapagkat wari’y nanaig ang kanilang mga palaso; samantalang ang mga Gandharva, bagama’t makalangit, ay tila nayanig sandali—na siyang naglatag ng daan sa panibago at mas matatag na ganting-salakay.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how apparent advantage in battle can inflate pride and provoke louder triumphalism, yet such confidence is unstable; ethical reflection in the Mahābhārata often warns that arrogance and aggression invite reversal and suffering.
During the forest episode, the Kauravas see the Gandharvas suffering under attack and shout loudly in excitement and bravado, as the fight intensifies and momentum seems to shift—foreshadowing a strong Gandharva response led by their chief.