Shloka 9
भीष्म-द्रोणादिभिः पाण्डवसेनाक्षयकाल-निर्णयः | Time-estimates for the depletion of the Pāṇḍava forces
Bhīṣma–Droṇa council
कृतवर्मा सहानीकस्त्रिगर्तश्ष महारथ: । दुर्योधनश्व नृपतिर्श्नातृभि: परिवारित:
kṛtavarmā sahānīkas trigartaś ca mahārathaḥ | duryodhanaś ca nṛpatir bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritaḥ ||
वैशम्पायन बोले—सेना सहित कृतवर्मा, महारथी त्रिगर्त, और भाइयों से घिरा हुआ नृपति दुर्योधन—ये सब युद्ध-व्यूह में आगे बढ़े, दुर्योधन को अग्रणी बनाकर।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how strength—army, elite warriors, and family solidarity—can be organized efficiently yet still serve an adharma-driven objective. It invites reflection on the ethical direction of loyalty: kinship and alliance are powerful, but their moral worth depends on the cause they uphold.
Vaiśampāyana lists key Kaurava-aligned leaders—Kṛtavarmā with his troops, the Trigarta great warrior, and King Duryodhana surrounded by his brothers—moving together in an ordered military procession/formation, with Duryodhana placed at the front as the focal leader.