Shloka 24
Adhyāya 152: Kaurava-sainyavibhāgaḥ
Division and Standardization of the Kaurava Host
तदुत्सव इवोदग्रं सम्प्रहृष्टनरावृतम् । नगर धार्तराष्ट्स्य भारतासीत् समाकुलम्,जनमेजय! दुर्योधनका वह हस्तिनापुर नगर मानो वहाँ कोई उत्सव हो रहा हो, इस प्रकार समृद्ध और हर्षोत्फुल्ल मनुष्योंसे भर गया था, इससे वहाँ बड़ी हलचल मच गयी थी
tad utsava ivodagraṃ samprahṛṣṭa-narāvṛtam | nagaraṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya bhāratāsīt samākulam, janamejaya ||
اے جنمیجئے! دھارتراشٹروں کا وہ شہر گویا جشن کی طرح جوش و خروش سے اٹھ کھڑا ہوا؛ خوشی سے بھرے لوگوں سے لبریز ہو کر وہ نہایت ہنگامہ خیز اور پرہجوم ہو گیا۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how collective excitement can mask ethical discernment: a city can celebrate political momentum as if it were a festival, even when that momentum is tied to pride and impending conflict. It cautions that popular enthusiasm is not the same as dharma.
Vaiśampāyana describes the Kaurava capital becoming crowded and noisy, with people delighted and stirred up—like during a festival—indicating heightened public agitation around Duryodhana’s camp and the escalating crisis that will lead toward war.