Shloka 9
यस्यानुचक्रं ध्वजिन: प्रयान्ति सौवीरका द्वादश राजपुत्रा:,जयद्रथो नाम यदि श्रुतस्ते सौवीरराज: सुभगे स एष: । लाल रंगके घोड़ोंसे जुते हुए रथोंपर बैठकर यज्ञोंमें प्रजज्लित अग्निके समान सुशोभित होनेवाले अंगारक, कुज्जर, गुप्तक, शत्रुउ्जय, संजय, सुप्रवृद्ध, भयंकर, भ्रमर, रवि, शूर, प्रताप तथा कुहन--सौवीरदेशके ये बारह राजकुमार जिनके रथके पीछे हाथमें ध्वजा लिये चलते हैं तथा छः हजार रथी, हाथी, घोड़े और पैदल जिनका अनुगमन करते हैं, उन सौवीरराज जयद्रथका नाम तुमने सुना होगा। सौभाग्यशालिनि! ये वे ही राजा जयद्रथ दिखायी दे रहे हैं
yasyānucakraṃ dhvajinaḥ prayānti sauvīrakā dvādaśa rājaputrāḥ | jayadratho nāma yadi śrutaste sauvīrarājaḥ subhage sa eṣaḥ ||
“Behind whose chariot march twelve princes of the Sauvīra land, bearing banners in their hands—if you have heard the name Jayadratha, the king of Sauvīra—O fortunate lady, this is that very Jayadratha.”
कोटिक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds royal splendor—banners, princes, and the chariot’s retinue—yet within the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame such outward power is not the final measure of greatness. The epic repeatedly implies that fame and force must be judged by dharma: a king’s true stature is determined by conduct, restraint, and righteousness rather than by display.
A speaker (Koṭika) identifies a prominent approaching king by describing his entourage: twelve Sauvīra princes follow behind his chariot as banner-bearers. The speaker then names him—Jayadratha, king of Sauvīra—and tells the addressed woman that the very Jayadratha she has heard of is now visible before them.