Shloka 20
आदि पर्व — द्रौपदी-स्वयंवरानन्तरवृत्तम्
Aftermath of Draupadī’s Svayaṃvara
वीरो वातपतिकश्लैव झिल्लीपिण्डारकस्तथा । उशीनरश्न विक्रान्तो वृष्णयस्ते प्रकीर्तिता:,महाबली सुषेण, उशीनरदेशीय शिबि तथा चोर-डाकुओंको मार डालनेवाले कारूषाधिपति भी यहाँ आये हैं। इधर संकर्षण, वासुदेव, (भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण) रुक्मिणीनन्दन पराक्रमी प्रद्युम्न, साम्ब, चारुदेष्ण, प्रद्युम्मकुमार अनिरुद्ध, श्रीकृष्णके बड़े भाई गद, अक्रूर, सात्यकि, परम बुद्धिमान् उद्धव, हृदिकपुत्र कृतकर्मा, पृथु, विपृथु, विदूरथ, कंक, शंकु, गवेषण, आशावह, अनिरुद्ध, शमीक, सारिमेजय, वीर, वातपति, झिल्लीपिण्डारक तथा पराक्रमी उशीनर--ये सब वृष्णिवंशी कहे गये हैं
vīro vātapatikaś caiva jhillīpiṇḍārakas tathā | uśīnaraś ca vikrānto vṛṣṇayas te prakīrtitāḥ ||
Dhṛṣṭadyumna said: “Vīra, Vātapatika, Jhillīpiṇḍāraka, and the valiant Uśīnara—these are all celebrated as members of the Vṛṣṇi line.” In context, the verse serves as a formal roll-call of allied heroes, stressing lineage, renown, and the righteous duty of kinsmen and confederates to stand together.
धृष्टह्युम्न उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the Mahābhārata’s emphasis on kīrti (publicly acknowledged standing) grounded in kula (lineage) and shared dharma: named warriors are ‘proclaimed’ as Vṛṣṇis, implying obligations of solidarity, protection of one’s people, and readiness to uphold a righteous alliance.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna is enumerating notable figures and identifying them as belonging to the Vṛṣṇi line. This kind of cataloging situates characters within recognized clans and alliances, preparing the audience to understand who stands with whom as the larger conflict and political alignments take shape.