Mahabharata — Karna Parva, Shloka 2
ट्रपदसुतवरिष्ठा: पठ्च शैनेयषष्ठा द्रुपददुहितृपुत्रा: प्च चामित्रसाहा: । द्विरदरथनराश्चान् सूदयन्तस्त्वदीयान् भुजगपतिनिकाशैर्मार्गणैरात्तशस्त्रा:
drupadasutavariṣṭhāḥ pañca śaineyaṣaṣṭhā drupadaduhitṛputrāḥ pañca cāmitrasāhāḥ | dviradarathanarāś cān sūdayantas tvadīyān bhujagapatinikāśair mārgaṇair āttaśastrāḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja! Lima putra utama Drupada, Śaineya (Sātyaki) sebagai yang keenam, serta lima putra Draupadī—semuanya pahlawan yang tak gentar—datang cepat dengan kereta-kereta mereka. Dengan senjata di tangan, mereka membantai pasukanmu—gajah, kuda, kereta, dan prajurit pejalan—dengan anak panah yang ganas laksana raja ular. Panji-panji mereka berkibar diterpa angin; kuda-kuda melompat maju; dan mereka mengaum keras saat mendekat.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds kṣatriya-dharma in its epic form: disciplined courage and coordinated action in defense of one’s side. Ethically, it also highlights how war magnifies collective responsibility—heroes act not as isolated individuals but as a unit whose prowess brings large-scale consequences to entire armies.
Sañjaya reports to the king that a compact strike-force has arrived: Drupada’s five sons, Sātyaki as the sixth, and Draupadī’s five sons. Armed and advancing rapidly in chariots, they are slaughtering the king’s troops—elephants, chariots, and infantry—using deadly, serpent-like arrows, with banners streaming and battle-cries resounding.