Shloka 25
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय १४० (कृष्णेन कर्णं प्रति पाण्डवबल-वैशिष्ट्यप्रदर्शनम्) / Udyoga Parva, Chapter 140
Krishna’s appraisal of Pandava advantage and war portents
धृष्टय्युम्नश्ष॒ पाउ्चाल्य: सात्यकिश्न महारथ: । उत्तमौजा युधामन्यु: सत्यधर्मा च सौमकि:
dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pāñcālyaḥ sātyakiś ca mahārathaḥ | uttamaujā yudhāmanyuḥ satyadharmā ca saumakiḥ ||
हे माधव, हे जनार्दन! धृष्टद्युम्न पाञ्चाल, महारथी सात्यकि, उत्तमौजा, युधामन्यु और सोमक-वंशी सत्यधर्मा—ये सब युधिष्ठिर के प्रमुख सहायक हैं; ऐसे रक्षकों के रहते समस्त भूमण्डल और कौरव-राज्य युधिष्ठिर के अधिकार में ही रहेगा।
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how rightful sovereignty is supported by dharmic alignment and strong alliances: Karna recognizes that Yudhiṣṭhira’s cause is reinforced by eminent warriors, implying that political legitimacy and success in a kṣatriya conflict depend not only on claim but also on the moral and strategic strength of one’s supporters.
In Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Karna enumerates key Pāṇḍava-aligned champions—Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Sātyaki, Uttamaujā, Yudhāmanyu, and Satyadharmā—highlighting the formidable coalition around Yudhiṣṭhira and suggesting that such backing makes Yudhiṣṭhira’s eventual rule over the Kuru realm plausible.