Shloka 41
Varṣa-Parvata-Nivāsinām Varnanam
Description of Regions, Mountains, and Their Inhabitants
उत्तमाश्वदशार्णाक्ष मेकलाश्चोत्कलै: सह । पज्चाला: कोसलाश्वैव नैकपृष्ठा धुरंधरा:,भारतमें ये कुरु-पांचाल, शाल्व, माद्रेय-जांगल, शूरसेन, पुलिन्द, बोध, माल, मत्स्य, कुशल्य, सौशल्य, कुन्ति, कान्ति, कोसल, चेदि, मत्स्य, करूष, भोज, सिन्धु-पुलिन्द, उत्तमाश्च, दशार्ण, मेकल, उत्कल, पंचाल, कोसल, नैकपृष्ठ, धुरंधर, गोधा, मद्रकलिंग, काशि, अपरकाशि, जठर, कुक्कुर, दशार्ण, कुन्ति, अवन्ति, अपरकुन्ति, गोमन्त, मन्दक, सण्ड, विदर्भ, रूपवाहिक, अश्मक, पाण्ड्राष्ट्र, गोपराष्ट्र, करीति, अधिराज्य, कुशाद्य तथा मल्लराष्ट्र
uttamāśvadaśārṇākṣa mekalāś cotkalaiḥ saha | pañcālāḥ kosalāś caiva naikapṛṣṭhā dhuraṃdharāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “There were also the warriors of Uttamāśva and Daśārṇākṣa, and the people of Mekalā together with the Utkalas; the Pañcālas and the Kosalas as well—men famed for steadfast endurance and for bearing the burden of battle.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
This verse is primarily descriptive rather than doctrinal: it underscores the scale and diversity of the forces gathered for war, highlighting the weight of responsibility borne by leaders and warriors (dhuraṃdharāḥ) when collective power is mobilized.
Sañjaya continues enumerating the various peoples and contingents present in the great conflict, naming regions and groups—Mekalā, Utkala, Pañcāla, Kosala—portraying them as resolute, battle-capable troops within the larger mustering for Kurukṣetra.