Shloka 16
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय १५१: कृष्णस्य कौरव-अवज्ञा-निर्णयः तथा पाण्डव-योगाज्ञा
Krishna on the Kauravas’ Rejection of Counsel; Pandava Readiness Ordered
गजा: कण्टकसंनाहा लोहवर्मोत्तरच्छदा: । दृश्यन्ते तत्र गिर्याभा: सहस्रशतयोधिन:
gajāḥ kaṇṭakasaṃnāhā lohavarmottaracchadāḥ | dṛśyante tatra giryābhāḥ sahasraśatayodhinaḥ ||
وہاں کانٹوں والے ساز و سامان سے آراستہ، لوہے کی زرہ اور لوہے ہی کی جھول اوڑھے—پہاڑ جیسے عظیم ہاتھی دکھائی دیتے تھے، جو سینکڑوں اور ہزاروں جنگجوؤں کے مقابلے کی طاقت رکھتے تھے۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the build-up of overwhelming martial resources intensifies the moral burden of choosing war; such displays of power function as intimidation and signal that the coming conflict will be catastrophic, thereby sharpening the ethical imperative to seek a just resolution.
Vaiśampāyana describes the war array: massive elephants, outfitted with spiked war-gear and iron protection, stand like mountains and are portrayed as capable of engaging vast numbers of enemy warriors—an image of formidable readiness on the battlefield.