Shloka 2
Rukmī’s Offer of Aid and Arjuna’s Refusal (रुक्मिप्रस्तावः—अर्जुनप्रत्याख्यानम्)
ऋते सेनाप्रणेतारं पृतना सुमहत्यपि । दीर्यते युद्धमासाद्य पिपीलिकपुटं यथा
ṛte senāpraṇetāraṃ pṛtanā sumahaty api | dīryate yuddham āsādya pipīlikapuṭaṃ yathā ||
اے پِتامہ! چاہے لشکر کتنا ہی بڑا ہو، مگر کسی لائق سپہ سالار کے بغیر جب وہ جنگ میں اترتا ہے تو چیونٹیوں کی قطار کی طرح بکھر کر پامال ہو جاتا ہے۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power without guidance is self-defeating: even a huge force collapses in conflict if it lacks a capable commander who can organize, direct, and restrain it. The ethical implication is that responsibility and disciplined leadership are essential to prevent destructive chaos.
Vaiśaṃpāyana uses a vivid simile to stress a practical lesson relevant to the impending Kurukṣetra conflict: armies need a qualified senāpati. Without such leadership, troops entering battle are broken up like an ant-line trampled and scattered.