Shloka 19
द्रुपदवाक्यं
Drupada’s Counsel on Conciliation and Alliance Mobilization
जयत्सेनश्न काश्यश्वल॒ तथा पञ्चनदा नृपा: । क्राथपुत्रश्न दुर्धर्ष: पार्वतीयाश्व ये नृपा:
jayatsenaś ca kāśyaśvaḥ tathā pañcanadā nṛpāḥ | krāthaputraś ca durdharṣaḥ pārvatīyāś ca ye nṛpāḥ ||
Drupada said: “Jayatsena and Kāśyaśva, and the kings of Pañcanada; and Krāthaputra, who is hard to subdue; and those kings who dwell in the mountainous regions—these rulers too are counted among the gathered allies.”
दुपद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical and political necessity of gathering righteous support: when confronting adharma, a just cause is strengthened by broad alliances and the willingness of many rulers to stand together.
Drupada is listing various kings and regional rulers who are aligned or present, emphasizing the scale and diversity of the coalition forming around the Pāṇḍavas in the lead-up to the great conflict.