Shloka 10
Virāṭa’s Mobilization to Recover the Cattle (गोधनरक्षणार्थ विराटस्य सैन्यसमायोजनम्)
अथवा गोसहस्राणि शुभानि च बहूनि च । विविधानि हरिष्याम: प्रतिपीड्य पुरं बलात्,“अथवा उनके यहाँ सहस्रों सुन्दर गौओंके बहुत-से समुदाय हैं; अतः बलपूर्वक उनके नगरमें उत्पात मचाकर उन समस्त गौओंका अपहरण कर लेंगे
athavā go-sahasrāṇi śubhāni ca bahūni ca | vividhāni hariṣyāmaḥ pratipīḍya puraṃ balāt ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “O kaya naman, mayroon silang maraming libong magagandang baka, na nasa malalaking kawan. Sa lakas, guguluhin natin ang kanilang lungsod at magpapasiklab ng kaguluhan, at saka natin ilalayo ang mga bakang iyon—iba’t ibang uri.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a morally problematic impulse: using force and civic terror to seize another’s wealth. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, such coercive plunder tends toward adharma and becomes a seed for escalation and retribution.
A plan is being voiced to raid a city and abduct its large herds of cattle—explicitly by applying force and causing disturbance—indicating an impending act of aggression rather than negotiation or lawful claim.