Shloka 496
ब्रद्य क्षत्रं च यज्ञाश्च दक्षिण श्षार्जुनं श्रिता: । अपने गणों और सेवकोंसहित देवता, पितर, यम, कुबेर और वरुण अर्जुनके पक्षमें थे। ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय, यज्ञ और दक्षिणा आदिने भी अर्जुनका ही साथ दिया
brāhmaṇyaṃ kṣatraṃ ca yajñāś ca dakṣiṇāś cārjunaṃ śritāḥ | devāḥ pitaro yamaḥ kuberaś ca varuṇaś cārjunasya pakṣe 'bhavan gaṇaiḥ sevakaiś ca saha ||
Sañjaya berkata: Kebajikan Brahmana, daya ksatria, yajña, dan dāna-dakṣiṇā—semuanya berpihak kepada Arjuna. Para dewa, para Pitṛ, serta Yama, Kubera, dan Varuṇa—bersama rombongan dan para pengiring mereka—berdiri di pihak Arjuna.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that dharma is a real force in the epic’s moral universe: spiritual integrity (brāhmaṇya), rightful power (kṣatra), and properly conducted sacrifice with due gifts (yajña–dakṣiṇā) are portrayed as actively supporting the righteous side. Ethical legitimacy, not mere strength, is presented as the deeper ground of victory.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna’s side is backed not only by human allies but also by divine and cosmic authorities—gods, ancestors, and deities like Yama, Kubera, and Varuṇa—along with their retinues. This frames the battlefield outcome as aligned with cosmic and ritual-moral support.