Shloka 12

Draupadī’s Identification of the Pāṇḍavas and the Onset of the Chariot Engagement (द्रौपदी-पाण्डव-परिचयः)

Devanagari script

तं तु प्रस्थितमाज्ञाय कर्णदुःशासनादय: । अनुजममुर्महेष्वासा धार्तराष्ट्र महाबलम्‌,महाबली दुर्योधनको अन्यत्र गया जान कर्ण और दुःशासन आदि महान धनुर्धरोंने उसका अनुसरण किया

Transliteration

taṃ tu prasthitam ājñāya karṇa-duḥśāsanādayaḥ | anujagmur mahēṣvāsā dhārtarāṣṭraṃ mahābalam ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana sprach: Als sie erfuhren, dass er aufgebrochen war, folgten Karṇa, Duḥśāsana und die übrigen großen Bogenschützen jenem mächtigen Dhārtarāṣṭra (Duryodhana).

Word by Word

तम्him

तुbut/indeed

प्रस्थितम्departed/setting out

आज्ञायhaving known/understanding

कर्णKarna

दुःशासनDuhshasana

आदयःand others (beginning with)

अनुजम्the younger brother

अनुafter, following

जग्मुःwent/followed

महेष्वासाःgreat bowmen

धार्तराष्ट्रम्the Dhartarashtra (son of Dhritarashtra)

महाबलम्mighty-strong

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Karṇa

Duḥśāsana

Duryodhana (Dhārtarāṣṭra)

Dhṛtarāṣṭra (as patronymic base)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the power of allegiance and collective momentum: influential warriors reinforce a leader’s path by following him. Ethically, it invites reflection on whether loyalty is guided by dharma (right conduct) or by attachment to power and faction.

What is happening in the narrative?

When Duryodhana (identified by the patronymic Dhārtarāṣṭra) sets out, Karṇa, Duḥśāsana, and other renowned archers learn of his departure and proceed after him, forming his accompanying force.