Shloka 6
अध्याय २३ — संजयस्योपप्लव्यगमनम् तथा युधिष्ठिरकुशलप्रश्नाः
Sanjaya’s Arrival at Upaplavya and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Welfare Inquiries
माद्रीसुती चापि रणाजिमध्ये सर्वा दिश: सम्पतन्तौ स्मरन्ति | सेनां वर्षन्ती शरवर्षैरजस्तरं महारथौ समरे दुष्प्रकम्पौ,समरांगणमें जिन्हें हराना तो दूरकी बात है, विचलित या कम्पित करना भी अत्यन्त कठिन है, जो शत्रुसेनापर निरन्तर बाणोंकी वर्षा करते हैं और संग्राममें सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंमें आक्रमण करते हैं, उन महारथी माद्रीकुमार नकुल-सहदेवको भी कौरव सदा याद करते हैं
mādrīsutī cāpi raṇājimadhye sarvā diśaḥ sampatantau smaranti | senāṃ varṣantī śaravarṣair ajastaraṃ mahārathau samare duṣprakampau ||
Sañjaya said: “Even the sons of Mādrī—Nakula and Sahadeva—are remembered by the Kauravas: in the very midst of battle they rush upon all directions, pouring down ceaseless showers of arrows upon the enemy host. Those two great chariot-warriors are so steady in combat that to shake or unsettle them in the field is exceedingly difficult.”
सयजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness and disciplined courage in the face of conflict: true martial excellence is not merely attacking, but remaining unshaken—mentally and tactically—while acting with sustained effort. It also shows how reputation and proven capability shape the moral-psychological landscape of war.
Sañjaya is describing to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the formidable warriors on the Pāṇḍava side. Here he notes that even the Kauravas keep Nakula and Sahadeva in mind because, in battle, they charge in all directions and continuously shower the enemy army with arrows, and are extremely difficult to disturb or dislodge.