संजय उवाच
तद् अनीकम् अनाधृष्यं भारद्वाजेन रक्षितम् ॥
पार्थाः समभ्यवर्तन्त भीमसेनपुरोगमाः ॥
सात्यकिश् चेकितानश् च धृष्टद्युम्नश् च पार्षतः ॥
कुन्तिभोजश् च विक्रान्तो द्रुपदश् च महारथः ॥
आर्जुनिः क्षत्रधर्मा च बृहत्क्षत्रश् च वीर्यवान् ॥
चेदिपो धृष्टकेतुश् च माद्रीपुत्रौ घटोत्कचः ॥
saṃjaya uvāca
tad anīkam anādhṛṣyaṃ bhāradvājena rakṣitam ||
pārthāḥ samabhyavartanta bhīmasenapurogamāḥ ||
sātyakiś cekitānaś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ ||
kuntibhojaś ca vikrānto drupadaś ca mahārathaḥ ||
ārjuniḥ kṣatradharmā ca bṛhatkṣatraś ca vīryavān ||
cedipo dhṛṣṭaketuś ca mādrīputrau ghaṭotkacaḥ ||
Against that impregnable array, guarded by Drona, the Pandavas advanced with Bhimasena at their head: Satyaki and Chekitana, and Dhrishtadyumna Parshata, and bold Kuntibhoja, and mighty charioteer Drupada, the son of Arjuna [Abhimanyu] and Kshatradharman, and mighty Brihatkshatra, the lord of Chedi Dhrishtaketu, and both sons of Madri, and Ghatotkacha.
957510dd9e9c · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:22:09 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The whole flower of the Pandava host — by name, one after another — rises against Drona's impregnable array. The tradition does not blur them into a faceless mass but names each one, as if gathering into one the entire valor of the righteous side before the decisive hour. It is telling that among them the "son of Arjuna" is already named — the one on whom the fatal burden will fall. The verse teaches that it is right to remember by name those who accomplish great deeds, not dissolving them into mere numbers; that in the hour of trial the whole strength of the just cause gathers as one; and that the tradition, listing the champions before the tale of one of them's lawless death, underscores this: there were many of them, glorious and mighty — and yet they will not be able to save the boy, a fact each of these names will one day be bitterly recalled by.