Shloka 52
Varṣa-Parvata-Nivāsinām Varnanam
Description of Regions, Mountains, and Their Inhabitants
दुर्गाला: प्रतिमत्स्याश्व॒ कुन्तला: कोसलास्तथा । तीरग्रहा: शूरसेना ईजिका: कन्यकागुणा:,पुण्ड्र, भर्ग, किरात, सुदृष्ट, यामुन, शक, निषाद, निषध, आनर्त, नैर#ऋत, दुर्गाल, प्रतिमत्स्य, कुन्तल, कोसल, तीरग्रह, शूरसेन, ईजिक, कन्यकागुण, तिलभार, मसीर, मधुमान, सुकन्दक, काश्मीर, सिन्धुसौवीर, गान्धार, दर्शक, अभीसार, उलूत, शैवाल, बाह्लिक, दार्वी, वानव, दर्व, वातज, आमरथ, उरग, बहुवाद्य, सुदाम, सुमल्लिक, वध्र, करीषक, कुलिन्द, उपत्यक, वनायु, दश, पार्श्वरोम, कुशबिन्दु, कच्छ, गोपालकक्ष, जांगल, कुरुवर्णक, किरात, बर्बर, सिद्ध, वैदेह, ताम्रलिप्तक, ओण्ड्, म्लेच्छ, सैसिरिध्र और पार्वतीय इत्यादि
durgālāḥ pratimatsyāśva-kuntalāḥ kosalās tathā | tīragrahāḥ śūrasenā ījikāḥ kanyakāguṇāḥ | puṇḍrā bhargāḥ kirātāḥ sudṛṣṭā yāmunāḥ śakāḥ niṣādā niṣadhā ānartā nairṛtāḥ | durgālāḥ pratimatsyāḥ kuntalāḥ kosalāḥ tīragrahāḥ śūrasenāḥ ījikāḥ kanyakāguṇāḥ | tilabhārā masīrā madhumānāḥ sukandakāḥ kāśmīrāḥ sindhusauvīrā gāndhārā darśakāḥ | abhīsārā ulūtāḥ śaivālā bāhlīkā dārvī vānavā darvā vāṭajāḥ | āmarathā uragā bahuvādyāḥ sudāmāḥ sumallikāḥ vadhra-kārīṣakāḥ | kulindā upatyakā vanāyava daśāḥ pārśvaromāḥ kuśabindavaḥ | kacchā gopālakakṣā jāṅgalāḥ kurūvarṇakāḥ kirātā barbarāḥ siddhāḥ | vaidehāḥ tāmraliptakā oṇḍā mlecchāḥ saisiridhrāḥ pārvatīyāś ca ity-ādayaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: There were also many other peoples and frontier tribes—Durgālas, Pratimatsyas, Kuntalas, Kosalas, the Tīragrahas, Śūrasenas, Ījikas, and the Kanyakāguṇas; likewise Puṇḍras, Bhargas, Kirātas, Sudṛṣṭas, Yāmunas, Śakas, Niṣādas, Niṣadhas, Ānartas, and Nairṛtas. And further: Tilabhāras, Masīras, Madhumānas, Sukandakas, Kāśmīras, Sindhu-Sauvīras, Gāndhāras, Darśakas, Abhīsāras, Ulūtas, Śaivālas, Bāhlīkas, Dārvīs, Vānavas, Darvas, Vāṭajas, Āmarathas, Uragas, Bahuvādyas, Sudāmas, Sumallikas, Vadhras, Kārīṣakas, Kulindas, Upatyakas, Vanāyus, Daśas, Pārśvaromas, Kuśabindus, Kacchas, Gopālakakṣas, Jāṅgalas, Kurūvarṇakas, Kirātas, Barbaras, Siddhas, Vaidehas, Tāmraliptakas, Oṇḍas, Mlecchas, Saisiridhras, and mountain-dwellers—such and many more. In this catalogue, the epic underscores the vast, multi-regional scale of the war: not merely a family feud, but a conflict drawing in diverse communities, raising the ethical weight of leadership and the consequences of adharma on an entire world.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
By enumerating many peoples drawn into the conflict, the passage highlights the expansive social cost of war and the ethical burden on rulers: when adharma drives a dynastic struggle, its consequences spread far beyond the principal families to affect diverse regions and communities.
Sañjaya continues his report by listing numerous peoples and regional groups present/implicated in the great war’s mobilization, emphasizing the breadth of participation across the subcontinent and frontier zones.