Shloka 186

Śikhaṇḍin’s Transformation, Daśārṇa Verification, and Kubera’s Conditional Curse

Udyoga Parva 193

Devanagari script

विराटद्रुपदौ चोभौ भीष्मद्रोणसमौ युधि । 'शिखण्डी

Transliteration

virāṭa-drupadau cobhau bhīṣma-droṇa-samau yudhi | śikhaṇḍī sātyakiś caiva drupada-kumāro dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ | bhīmaseno yamanyur uttamaujā nakula-sahadevau ca | tathā rājā virāṭaś ca drupadaś ca yudhi bhīṣma-droṇābhyāṃ samau ||

Translation

যুধিষ্ঠির বললেন—বিরাট ও দ্রুপদ—উভয়েই যুদ্ধে ভীষ্ম ও দ্রোণের সমান। তদ্রূপ শিখণ্ডী, সাত্যকি, দ্রুপদপুত্র ধৃষ্টদ্যুম্ন, ভীমসেন, দুই ভ্রাতা নকুল-সহদেব, যুধামন্যু ও উত্তমৌজা—এরা সকলেই রণক্ষেত্রে ভীষ্ম ও দ্রোণের সমকক্ষ।

Word by Word

• विराटद्रुपदौ: Virata and Drupada
• विराटद्रुपदौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विराट + द्रुपद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• भीष्मद्रोणसमौ: equal to Bhishma and Drona
• भीष्मद्रोणसमौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीष्म + द्रोण + सम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• युधि: in battle
• युधि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युध्
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Virāṭa
• Drupada
• Bhīṣma
• Droṇa
• Śikhaṇḍin
• Sātyaki
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• Nakula
• Sahadeva
• Yudhāmanyu
• Uttamaujā

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when confronted by revered and formidable elders like Bhīṣma and Droṇa, dharmic resolve must be paired with clear-eyed assessment of one’s own support and strength. Yudhiṣṭhira’s words model responsible leadership: acknowledging danger while affirming capable allies, thereby sustaining courage without arrogance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the lead-up to the Kurukṣetra war, Yudhiṣṭhira enumerates key Pāṇḍava-aligned warriors and kings, asserting that they can match the Kaurava champions Bhīṣma and Droṇa. The passage functions as a strategic and psychological reassurance within the war preparations.