Bhagavad Gita — Arjuna Vishada Yoga, Shloka 6

Arjuna Vishada Yoga

Devanagari script

युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् । सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ॥

Transliteration

yudhāmanyuś ca vikrānta uttamaujāś ca vīryavān | saubhadro draupadeyāś ca sarva eva mahārathāḥ ||

Translation

Yudhāmanyu the valiant, Uttamaujā the mighty, the son of Subhadrā, and the sons of Draupadī—all indeed are great chariot-warriors.

Gita Press Meaning

Yudhāmanyu the valiant, Uttamaujā the mighty, the son of Subhadrā, and the sons of Draupadī—all of them great chariot-warriors.

Critical Edition Meaning

Yudhāmanyu, the bold, and Uttamaujā, the powerful; and Saubhadra; and the Draupadeyas—all indeed great chariot-fighters.

Comparative Note

‘Saubhadra’ is a patronymic for Abhimanyu. ‘Draupadeyāḥ’ refers collectively to Draupadī’s sons. As with prior verses, the emphasis is on rank/competence, not on describing harm.

Word by Word

• युधामन्युः: Yudhāmanyu (a warrior’s name)
• युधामन्युः: Karta
• Root: युधामन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)

• च: and
• Root: च (निपात)

• विक्रान्तः: valiant, mighty (one who has advanced bravely)
• Root: वि√क्रम् (धातु) → विक्रान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)

• उत्तमौजाः: Uttamaujā (a warrior’s name)
• उत्तमौजाः: Karta
• Root: उत्तमौजस् (प्रातिपदिक)

• च: and
• Root: च (निपात)

• वीर्यवान्: possessing prowess/strength
• Root: वीर्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)

• सौभद्रः: Saubhadra (Abhimanyu, son of Subhadrā)
• सौभद्रः: Karta
• Root: सौभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)

• द्रौपदेयाः: the sons of Draupadī
• द्रौपदेयाः: Karta
• Root: द्रौपदेय (प्रातिपदिक)

• च: and
• Root: च (निपात)

• सर्वे: all
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)

• एव: indeed, certainly
• Root: एव (निपात)

• महारथाः: great chariot-warriors (great fighters)
• Root: महारथ (प्रातिपदिक)

Speakers

• Duryodhana
• Droṇa

Primary Concepts

• Kula (lineage)
• Dharma (family and social duties)
• Śaurya (courage as a cultivated disposition)

Key Themes

• Lineage and identity
• Collective strength
• Role-based excellence

FAQs

Psychological significance?

By grouping individuals under patronymics and collectives, the verse shows how identity is organized through family and affiliation—useful for morale-building and strategic framing.

Metaphysical meaning?

Lineage markers underscore embodied, relational existence: one’s situation (birth, ties, duties) conditions the arena in which spiritual discernment must operate.

Contextual relevance?

It completes a segment of Duryodhana’s listing of prominent Pāṇḍava-aligned figures before he turns to his own side.

Modern Application?

Teams often rely on both individual talent and group cohesion. The verse can be read as a reminder to recognize strengths across generations and networks without reducing persons to labels.