Shloka 176
सेनासमागमः — The Convergence of Armies
अक्षौहिण्यैव सेनाया दुर्योधनमुपागमत् । हृदिकपुत्र कृतवर्मा भी भोज, अन्धक तथा कुकुरवंशी वीरोंके साथ एक अक्षौहिणी सेना लेकर दुर्योधनके पास आया
akṣauhiṇyaiva senayā duryodhanam upāgamat | hṛdikaputraḥ kṛtavarmā bhī bhojaḥ āndhakaḥ tathā kukuravaṁśī vīraiḥ saha ekām akṣauhiṇīṁ senāṁ gṛhītvā duryodhanasya samīpam ājagāma |
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: With a full akṣauhiṇī division of troops, Kṛtavarmā—the son of Hṛdika—came to Duryodhana, accompanied by valiant warriors of the Bhoja, Āndhaka, and Kukura lineages. Thus, another great force aligned itself with Duryodhana, intensifying the moral and political momentum toward war.
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how choices of alliance and loyalty can accelerate adharma-driven conflict: powerful warriors and entire divisions may commit themselves to a cause, thereby increasing the inevitability and scale of war. It implicitly invites reflection on responsibility—strength and numbers do not by themselves confer righteousness.
During the Udyoga Parva’s war-preparation phase, Kṛtavarmā, son of Hṛdika, arrives to support Duryodhana, bringing an akṣauhiṇī force along with warriors from the Bhoja, Āndhaka, and Kukura lineages—marking a significant reinforcement of the Kaurava side.