Shloka 44
Chapter 49: Sañjaya’s Enumeration of the Pāṇḍava Coalition (पाण्डवसैन्यसमागम-वर्णनम्)
जो पराक्रममें भगवान् श्रीकृष्णके समान और इन्द्रियसंयममें युधिष्ठिरके तुल्य हैं, उन अभिमन्युको साथ लेकर पाण्डवोंने आपलोगोंसे युद्धकी तैयारी की है ।। यश्चैवाप्रतिमो वीर्ये धृष्टकेतुर्महायशा: । दुःसहः: समरे क्रुद्ध: शैशुपालिमहारथ:,जिसके पराक्रमकी कहीं तुलना नहीं है, शिशुपालका वह महारथी पुत्र महायशस्वी धृष्टकेतु समरभूमिमें कुपित होनेपर शत्रुओंके लिये दुःसह हो उठता है। उस चेदिराजके साथ पाण्डवलोग आपपर आक्रमण करनेकी तैयारी कर रहे हैं। उसने एक अक्षौहिणी सेनाके साथ आकर पाण्डवोंका पक्ष ग्रहण किया है
yaḥ parākrame bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇasya samaḥ, indriya-saṃyame ca yudhiṣṭhirasya tulyaḥ, taṃ abhimanyum saha nītvā pāṇḍavā yuṣmābhiḥ saha yuddhāya sajjāḥ. yaś caivāpratimo vīrye dhṛṣṭaketur mahāyaśāḥ, duḥsahaḥ samare kruddhaḥ śaiśupāli mahārathaḥ.
Sañjaya said: “The Pāṇḍavas have made ready for war against you, taking with them Abhimanyu—who in prowess is like the blessed Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and in self-restraint is comparable to Yudhiṣṭhira. And Dhṛṣṭaketu too—renowned, unmatched in valor, the great chariot-warrior, son of Śiśupāla—when angered in battle becomes unbearable for his enemies. Along with that lord of Cedi, the Pāṇḍavas are preparing to strike; he has come with a full akṣauhiṇī and taken their side.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the epic ideal that true martial excellence is not only physical prowess (parākrama, vīrya) but also disciplined self-control (indriya-saṃyama). By pairing Abhimanyu’s valor with Yudhiṣṭhira-like restraint, it frames ethical kingship and righteous warfare as requiring inner mastery alongside outer strength.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Pāṇḍavas are fully preparing for war and have strong allies and champions: Abhimanyu is present as a key warrior, and Dhṛṣṭaketu, the famed Cedi leader (son of Śiśupāla), has joined them with an akṣauhiṇī force, making the Pāṇḍava coalition more formidable.