Shloka 73

Devanagari script

अक्षौहिण्या परिवृतास्तेडध्यधावन्‌ युधिष्ठिरम्‌ । नकुल, सहदेव और द्रुपदकुमार धृष्टद्युम्न--ये एक अक्षौहिणी सेना साथ लेकर युधिष्ठिरके पास दौड़े आये

Transliteration

akṣauhiṇyā parivṛtās te 'bhyadhāvan yudhiṣṭhiram | nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca drupadakumāra dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ—ete ekākṣauhiṇīsenayā saha yudhiṣṭhirasya samīpam drutam ājagmuḥ |

Translation

Sañjaya said: Ringed about by an akṣauhiṇī, they rushed toward Yudhiṣṭhira. Nakula and Sahadeva, with Drupada’s son Dhṛṣṭadyumna, came swiftly to Yudhiṣṭhira, bringing a full akṣauhiṇī of troops—an urgent advance of loyal allies to shield and reinforce the righteous king amid the crush of war.

Word by Word

• अक्षौहिण्या: with an akṣauhiṇī (army-division)
• अक्षौहिण्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षौहिणी
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• परिवृताः: surrounded/attended (by)
• परिवृताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि√वृ (वृञ्) + क्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अभ्यधावन्: ran towards
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि√धाव्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• युधिष्ठिरम्: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Nakula
• Sahadeva
• Drupada
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• Akṣauhiṇī (army unit)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In the midst of destructive conflict, dharmic leadership depends not only on personal virtue but also on timely support, solidarity, and protection by allies. The verse highlights responsible loyalty—rushing to reinforce and safeguard the rightful leader when the situation turns perilous.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the fighting of the Karṇa Parva, Nakula, Sahadeva, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna (Drupada’s son) hurry to Yudhiṣṭhira with an entire akṣauhiṇī of troops, indicating an urgent reinforcement and protective movement around Yudhiṣṭhira.