Shloka 28
उद्योगपर्व — गान्धारी-उपदेशः
Udyoga Parva — Gandhārī’s Counsel to Duryodhana
त॑ प्रस्थितमभिप्रेक्ष्य भ्रातरो मनुजर्षभम् | अनुजग्मु: सहामात्या राजानश्वापि सर्वश:,नरश्रेष्ठ दुर्योधनको वहाँसे जाते देख उसके भाई, मन्त्री तथा सहयोगी नरेश सब-के- सब उठकर उसके साथ चल दिये
taṁ prasthitam abhiprekṣya bhrātaro manujarṣabham | anujagmuḥ sahāmātyā rājānaś cāpi sarvaśaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Seeing that foremost of men set out, his brothers—together with their ministers—and all the allied kings as well rose and followed him.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a leader’s movement immediately mobilizes an entire political network—brothers, ministers, and allied kings—showing that decisions in statecraft are rarely individual. Ethically, it points to shared responsibility: those who follow and support a course of action also partake in its moral consequences.
As Duryodhana (the leading Kaurava) sets out, his brothers, along with ministers and all associated kings, rise and accompany him. It depicts the consolidation of the Kaurava side and the momentum of preparations that lead toward the great conflict.