Shloka 2
Adhyāya 152: Kaurava-sainyavibhāgaḥ
Division and Standardization of the Kaurava Host
विराटद्रुपदाभ्यां च सपुत्राभ्यां समन्वितम् | केकयैरव॑ष्णिभिश्लैव पार्थिव: शतशो वृतम्
virāṭa-drupadābhyāṁ ca sa-putrābhyāṁ samanvitam | kekayair vṛṣṇibhiś caiva pārthivaḥ śataśo vṛtam ||
Janamejaya dit : « (L’armée de Yudhiṣṭhira) était rejointe par Virāṭa et Drupada avec leurs fils, et entourée aussi des Kekayas et des Vṛṣṇis—cerclée par des centaines de rois. Lorsque Duryodhana apprit que Yudhiṣṭhira, résolu à la guerre et protégé par Śrī Kṛṣṇa, était parvenu à Kurukṣetra et y avait établi son camp—accompagné de Virāṭa et Drupada avec leurs fils, et gardé par de nombreux grands guerriers de char, tel Indra entouré des Ādityas—que fit-il alors ? »
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how righteous strength in the epic is not merely personal valor but the convergence of dharmic alliances and protection—political, familial, and (through Kṛṣṇa) moral-spiritual. It frames war as a consequence of choices, where the gathering of allies signals both legitimacy and responsibility.
Janamejaya asks the sage to narrate Duryodhana’s response after he learns that Yudhiṣṭhira has reached Kurukṣetra, set up camp, and is strongly protected—joined by Virāṭa and Drupada with their sons, supported by Kekaya princes and Vṛṣṇi warriors, and surrounded by many kings and great chariot-fighters.