Shloka 356
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय 54: फल्गुन-प्रतिरोधः, सौबली-व्यूह-विध्वंसः, दुर्योधन-भीष्म-संवादः
ये चान्ये पृथिवीपाला: प्रधाना: पुरुषर्षभ । 'पुरुषसिंह! तुम पराक्रम करके कौरवोंका नाश करो। मारिष! नरश्रेष्ठ! मैं
ye cānye pṛthivīpālāḥ pradhānāḥ puruṣarṣabha | “puruṣasiṃha! tvaṃ parākramaṃ kṛtvā kauravān nāśaya | māriṣa! narāśreṣṭha! ahaṃ bhīmasenaḥ śrīkṛṣṇaḥ mādrīkumarau nakula-sahadevau draupadyāḥ pañca putrāś ca anye ca pradhāna-pradhānā bhūpālāḥ kavacaṃ dhārayitvā tava pṛṣṭhataḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ cariṣyāmaḥ”
Sañjaya said: “And other foremost kings as well, O bull among men, declare: ‘O lion among men, display your valor and bring about the destruction of the Kauravas. O noble one, O best of men— I, Bhīmasena, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the sons of Mādrī, Nakula and Sahadeva, the five sons of Draupadī, and other leading rulers, having donned our armor, will march close behind you, following in your wake.’”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores kṣatriya-dharma: a leader is urged to act with courage and decisive effort, while allies commit to disciplined support—armored, organized, and following behind—showing that righteous warfare (as framed in the epic) depends on both personal valor and collective responsibility.
In Sañjaya’s report, prominent allied kings and heroes encourage a chief warrior to strike down the Kauravas. They pledge that Bhīma, Kṛṣṇa, Nakula and Sahadeva, Draupadī’s five sons, and other leading rulers will don armor and advance closely behind him, reinforcing his charge in battle.