Shloka 8
Sainyasaṅgraha and Bhāga-Vyavasthā (Forces Assembled and Rival Allocations) | सैन्यसंग्रह-भागव्यवस्था
राजा विराट अपने दो पुत्रों शंख और उत्तरको साथ लिये, सूर्यदत्त और मदिराक्ष आदि वीर भ्राताओं और अन्य पुत्रोंक साथ एक अक्षौहिणी सेनासे घिरे हुए कुन्तीपुत्र युधिष्ठिरकी सहायताके लिये उपस्थित हैं ।। जारासंधिमागधश्न धृष्टकेतुश्च चेदिराट् । पृथक् पृथगनुप्राप्तौ पृथगक्षौहिणीवृतौ,जरासंधकुमार मगधनरेश सहदेव तथा चेदिराज धृष्टकेतु--ये दोनों भी अलग-अलग एक-एक अक्षौहिणी सेना लेकर आये हैं
sañjaya uvāca | rājā virāṭaḥ svau putrau śaṅkham uttaraṃ ca sahitau sūryadatta-madirākṣa-prabhṛtibhiḥ śūra-bhrātṛbhiḥ anyaiś ca putraiḥ saha ekayākṣauhiṇyā senayā parivṛtaḥ kuntīputra-yudhiṣṭhirasya sahāyatārthaṃ samupasthitaḥ || jarāsandhi-māgadhaḥ sahadevaḥ dhṛṣṭaketuś ca cedirāṭ | pṛthak pṛthag anuprāptau pṛthag-akṣauhiṇī-vṛtau ||
Sañjaya said: King Virāṭa has come to aid Yudhiṣṭhira, Kuntī’s son, bringing his two sons, Śaṅkha and Uttara, with valiant brothers such as Sūryadatta and Madirākṣa, and other sons besides—all encompassed by a full akṣauhiṇī of troops. Likewise Sahadeva, the Magadhan prince of Jarāsandha’s line, and Dhṛṣṭaketu, king of Cedi, have each arrived separately, each with his own akṣauhiṇī.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic solidarity: righteous leadership is strengthened when allies voluntarily commit resources and stand together. It also reflects kṣatriya ethics—supporting a just cause with organized, accountable force rather than isolated bravado.
Sañjaya reports the mobilization of Pandava-aligned forces: Virāṭa arrives with his sons and relatives, escorted by an akṣauhiṇī, to aid Yudhiṣṭhira; additionally, Sahadeva of Magadha (from Jarāsandha’s line) and Dhṛṣṭaketu of Cedi arrive separately, each bringing an akṣauhiṇī—showing the coalition forming before the Kurukṣetra war.