Shloka 2
ट्रपदसुतवरिष्ठा: पठ्च शैनेयषष्ठा द्रुपददुहितृपुत्रा: प्च चामित्रसाहा: । द्विरदरथनराश्चान् सूदयन्तस्त्वदीयान् भुजगपतिनिकाशैर्मार्गणैरात्तशस्त्रा:
drupadasutavariṣṭhāḥ pañca śaineyaṣaṣṭhā drupadaduhitṛputrāḥ pañca cāmitrasāhāḥ | dviradarathanarāś cān sūdayantas tvadīyān bhujagapatinikāśair mārgaṇair āttaśastrāḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: „O König, die fünf vorzüglichsten Söhne Drupadas—mit Śaineya (Sātyaki) als dem sechsten—und die fünf Söhne Draupadīs, allesamt tapfere Helden, die dem Feind nicht weichen, kamen rasch auf ihren Streitwagen heran. Mit Waffen in den Händen hieben sie deine Heere—Elefanten, Wagen und Fußsoldaten—mit Pfeilen nieder, gleich denen des Schlangenkönigs. Ihre Feldzeichen flatterten im Wind; ihre Rosse sprangen voran; und laut brüllend rückten sie heran.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds kṣatriya-dharma in its epic form: disciplined courage and coordinated action in defense of one’s side. Ethically, it also highlights how war magnifies collective responsibility—heroes act not as isolated individuals but as a unit whose prowess brings large-scale consequences to entire armies.
Sañjaya reports to the king that a compact strike-force has arrived: Drupada’s five sons, Sātyaki as the sixth, and Draupadī’s five sons. Armed and advancing rapidly in chariots, they are slaughtering the king’s troops—elephants, chariots, and infantry—using deadly, serpent-like arrows, with banners streaming and battle-cries resounding.