Shloka 15

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 186 — Drupada’s Summons and the Pāñcāla Reception

Devanagari script

ततस्तु ते राजगणा: क्रमेण कृष्णानिमित्तं कृतविक्रमाश्न । सकर्णदुर्योधनशाल्वशल्य- द्रौणायनिक्राथसुनीथवक्रा:

Transliteration

tatastu te rājagaṇāḥ krameṇa kṛṣṇānimittaṃ kṛtavikramāś ca | sa-karṇa-duryodhana-śālva-śalya-drauṇāyani-krātha-sunītha-vakrāḥ ||

Translation

Daraufhin zeigten jene Könige, einer nach dem anderen, ihre Kraft und Tapferkeit, indem sie Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) zum Anlass und Vorwand ihrer Taten machten—unter ihnen Karṇa, Duryodhana, Śālva, Śalya, Droṇāyana, Krātha, Sunītha und Vakra.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

तुbut, indeed

तेthey

राजगणाःgroups of kings

क्रमेणin order, successively

कृष्णof Krishna

निमित्तम्cause, occasion

कृतविक्रमाःhaving performed valorous deeds / having shown prowess

अशन्ate, consumed

सकर्णदुर्योधनशाल्वशल्यद्रौणायनिकृपाथसुनीथवक्राःalong with Karna, Duryodhana, Shalva, Shalya, Drona's son (Ashvatthaman), Kripa, (and) Su(n)itha/Vakra (etc.)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī)

Karṇa

Duryodhana

Śālva

Śalya

Drauṇāyani (Aśvatthāmā)

Krātha

Sunītha

Vakra

rājagaṇāḥ (assembled kings)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how worldly competition can instrumentalize a person—here Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) becomes the ‘occasion’ for princes to exhibit prowess. It implicitly contrasts genuine dharmic valor (self-mastery, protection of others) with pride-driven performance aimed at status and conquest.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the setting of the svayaṃvara-related events, many kings and renowned warriors step forward in succession to demonstrate their strength and capability, motivated by Kṛṣṇā as the stated cause. The text lists prominent figures among those who attempt or display valor.