Shloka 54

Kaurava Mobilization at Kurukṣetra (Duryodhana Orders War Preparations) / कुरुक्षेत्रे धार्तराष्ट्र-सैन्यसज्जा

Devanagari script

अग्रानीके भीमसेनो माद्रीपुत्रो च दंशितो,सेनाके आगे-आगे भीमसेन, कवचधारी माद्रीकुमार नकुल-सहदेव, सुभद्राकुमार अभिमन्यु, द्रौपदीके सभी पुत्र, ट्रपदकुमार धृष्टद्युम्न, प्रभद्रकमण और पांचालदेशीय क्षत्रिय वीर चले। इन सबने भीमसेनको अपने आगे कर लिया था

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | agrānīke bhīmaseno mādrīputraś ca daṃśitaḥ | senāyā agre'gre bhīmasenaḥ, kavacadhārī mādrīkumārau nakula-sahadevau, subhadrākumāro'bhimanyuḥ, draupadyāḥ sarve putrāḥ, drupadakumāro dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ, prabhadrakagaṇaḥ ca pāñcāladeśīyāḥ kṣatriyavīrāś ca yayuḥ | ete sarve bhīmasenaṃ puraskṛtya jagmuḥ ||

Translation

Di barisan terdepan berjalan Bhīmasena, dan di sisinya putra Mādrī yang berzirah. Memimpin maju ialah Bhīma; Nakula dan Sahadeva, putra-putra Mādrī yang berselubung baju rantai; Abhimanyu putra Subhadrā; semua putra Draupadī; Dhṛṣṭadyumna putra Drupada; para prajurit Prabhadraka; serta para kesatria Pāñcāla—semuanya menempatkan Bhīma sebagai ujung tombak.

Word by Word

• अग्रानीके: in the vanguard / at the front of the army
• अग्रानीके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्रानीक
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• भीमसेनः: Bhimasena
• भीमसेनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• माद्रीपुत्रः: son of Madri (Nakula/Sahadeva)
• माद्रीपुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: माद्रीपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• दंशितः: armored / mail-clad
• दंशितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दंशित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhīmasena
• Mādrī
• Nakula
• Sahadeva
• Subhadrā
• Abhimanyu
• Draupadī
• Sons of Draupadī (Upapāṇḍavas)
• Drupada
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• Prabhadrakas
• Pāñcāla

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic leadership in a martial context: the host advances in disciplined order, collectively choosing a foremost champion (Bhīma) and moving as an allied body. It underscores unity, readiness, and the Kṣatriya ethic of protecting the cause through organized courage rather than isolated heroism.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes the Pāṇḍava-aligned forces setting out with their leading fighters at the front—Bhīma, the sons of Mādrī (Nakula and Sahadeva) in armour, Abhimanyu, Draupadī’s sons, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the Prabhadrakas, and Pāñcāla warriors—placing Bhīma foremost as the vanguard.