Shloka 26
Chapter 19: Prativyūha of the Pāṇḍavas — Vajra (Acala) Formation and Dawn Omens
अक्षीौहिण्याथ पाज्चाल्यो यज्ञसेनो महामना: । विराटमन्वयात् पश्चात् पाण्डवार्थ पराक्रमी,महामना पराक्रमी पांचालराज ट्रुपद पाण्डवोंके लिये एक अक्षौहिणी सेनाके सहित राजा विराटके पीछे-पीछे चल रहे थे
akṣauhiṇyātha pāñcālyo yajñaseno mahāmanāḥ | virāṭam anvayāt paścāt pāṇḍavārthe parākramaḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: Dann rückte der edelmütige Pāñcāla-König Yajñasena (Drupada), ein mächtiger Krieger, für die Sache der Pāṇḍavas mit einer vollen Akṣauhiṇī an Truppen vor und folgte hinter König Virāṭa—ein Zeichen standhafter Bündnistreue und entschlossenen Beistands, während sich die Kriegsformationen sammelten.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic solidarity: righteous allies do not offer merely words but concrete support—here, Drupada commits an entire akṣauhiṇī for the Pāṇḍavas’ cause, embodying loyalty, duty between allied kings, and readiness to uphold a chosen side in a moral conflict.
Sañjaya reports the mobilization and ordering of the Pāṇḍava-aligned forces: Drupada of Pāñcāla, called Yajñasena, marches with one akṣauhiṇī and proceeds behind King Virāṭa, indicating their coordinated movement and battle-array as the war preparations culminate.