Shloka 63

Kaurava Mobilization at Kurukṣetra (Duryodhana Orders War Preparations) / कुरुक्षेत्रे धार्तराष्ट्र-सैन्यसज्जा

Devanagari script

केकया धृष्टकेतुश्च पुत्र: काश्यस्य चाभिभू: । श्रेणिमान्‌ वसुदानश्व शिखण्डी चापराजित:

Transliteration

vaishampāyana uvāca |

kekayā dhṛṣṭaketuś ca putraḥ kāśyasya cābhibhūḥ |

śreṇimān vasudānaś ca śikhaṇḍī cāparājitaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: The princes of Kekaya, and Dhṛṣṭaketu; Abhibhū, the son of the Kāśi king; Śreṇimān and Vasudāna; and the unconquered hero Śikhaṇḍī—adorned with ornaments, clad in armour, and weapons in hand—moved with joy and high spirits, surrounding King Yudhiṣṭhira on every side and proceeding with him.

Word by Word

• केकयाः: the Kekayas
• केकयाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: केकय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• धृष्टकेतुः: Dhrishtaketu
• धृष्टकेतुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृष्टकेतु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• काश्यस्य: of Kāśya (the king of Kāśi)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अभिभूः: Abhibhū
• अभिभूः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिभू
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्रेणिमान्: Śreṇimān (name; 'possessing a troop/line')
• श्रेणिमान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेणिमत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वसुदानः: Vasudāna
• वसुदानः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुदान
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अश्व: Aśva (name; lit. 'horse')
• अश्व: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शिखण्डी: Śikhaṇḍī
• शिखण्डी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अपराजितः: unconquered; Aparājita (as an epithet)
• अपराजितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपराजित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kekaya
• Dhṛṣṭaketu
• Kāśi
• Abhibhū
• Śreṇimān
• Vasudāna
• Śikhaṇḍī
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• ornaments (ābharaṇa)
• armor (kavaca)
• weapons (śastra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic leadership supported by loyal allies: disciplined preparedness (armor and weapons) joined with uplifted morale, showing that righteous action in crisis is strengthened by unity, duty, and steadfast companionship.

What is happening in the narrative?

A group of allied warriors—Kekaya princes and named heroes such as Dhṛṣṭaketu, Abhibhū, Śreṇimān, Vasudāna, and Śikhaṇḍī—move alongside King Yudhiṣṭhira, surrounding him protectively as they proceed, fully armed and energized.