Shloka 31
Sainyasaṅgraha and Bhāga-Vyavasthā (Forces Assembled and Rival Allocations) | सैन्यसंग्रह-भागव्यवस्था
नकुल: सहदेवश्व धष्टद्युम्नश्न पार्षत: । सात्यकिर्द्रपदश्चैव धृष्टकेतुश्न सानुज:
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca |
nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ |
sātyakir drupadaś caiva dhṛṣṭaketuś ca sānujāḥ ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Nakula and Sahadeva; Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Pārṣata (Drupada); Sātyaki; Drupada himself; and Dhṛṣṭaketu together with his younger brothers—these too stand on the Pāṇḍavas’ side, O Sañjaya.” In the passage’s moral frame, the blind king is compelled to acknowledge the formidable, dharma-aligned coalition around Yudhiṣṭhira—protected by Kṛṣṇa—while lamenting that his own son still clamors for war despite repeated warnings.
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when one recognizes the strength and righteousness of the opposing side, attachment and partiality can still drive destructive choices. Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s enumeration underscores the moral tragedy: clear knowledge is present, but ethical action is obstructed by familial attachment and Duryodhana’s obstinacy.
In Udyoga Parva, as war becomes imminent, Dhṛtarāṣṭra hears (through Sañjaya’s reports in the surrounding context) of the Pāṇḍavas’ supporters. In this verse he continues listing prominent allies—Nakula, Sahadeva, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Sātyaki, Drupada, and Dhṛṣṭaketu with his brothers—highlighting the breadth of the Pāṇḍava alliance.