Shloka 56
Varṣa-Parvata-Nivāsinām Varnanam
Description of Regions, Mountains, and Their Inhabitants
वनायवो दशापार्श्चरीमाण: कुशबिन्दव: । कच्छा गोपालकक्षाश्व जाड़ला: कुरुवर्णका:,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
sañjaya uvāca | vanāyavo daśāpārścarīmāṇaḥ kuśabindavaḥ | kacchā gopālakakṣāśva jāḍalāḥ kuravarṇakāḥ | puṇḍrā bhargāḥ kirātāḥ sudṛṣṭā yāmunāḥ śakāḥ niṣādā niṣadhā ānartā nairṛtā durgālāḥ pratimatsyāḥ kuntalāḥ kosalāḥ tīragrahāḥ śūrasenā ījikāḥ kanyakāguṇāḥ tilabhārā masīrā madhumānāḥ sukandakāḥ kāśmīrāḥ sindhusauvīrā gāndhārā darśakā abhīsārā ulūtāḥ śaivālā bāhlīkā dārvī vānavā darvā vātajā āmarathā uragā bahuvādyāḥ sudāmāḥ sumallikā vadhraḥ karīṣakāḥ kulindā upatyakāḥ vanāyavaḥ daśā pārśvaromāḥ kuśabindavaḥ kacchā gopālakakṣā jaṅgalāḥ kuravarṇakāḥ kirātā barbarāḥ siddhā vaidehāḥ tāmrālipṭakā oṇḍā mlecchāḥ saisiridhrāḥ pārvatīyāś cetyādayaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “There were also many peoples and tribes—forest-dwellers and mountain folk, frontier communities and those from the plains—such as the Vanāyus, Daśas, Pārśvaromas, Kuśabindus, the Kacchas, the Gopālakakṣas, the Jaṅgalas, the Kuravarṇakas, Puṇḍras, Kirātas, Yāmunas, Śakas, Niṣādas, Ānartas, Nairṛtas, Kuntalas, Kosalas, Śūrasenas, Kāśmīras, Sindhu-Sauvīras, Gāndhāras, Abhīsāras, Bāhlīkas, Vaidehas, Tāmrālipṭakas, Oṇḍas, Mlecchas, and many others—gathered for the war.” In the ethical frame of the epic, this catalogue underscores how the conflict draws in diverse regions and cultures, showing the vast social cost of adharma-driven rivalry and the sweeping reach of kṣatriya warfare.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
By listing many distant peoples drawn into the battle, the verse highlights the expansive human and social consequences of a dynastic conflict. The Mahābhārata’s ethical lens suggests that when rulers abandon restraint and dharma, the suffering spreads far beyond the immediate quarrel, pulling entire regions into violence.
Sañjaya continues his report of the assembled forces by enumerating various janapadas (peoples/tribes) present in the war. The passage functions as a catalogue of contingents, emphasizing the scale and diversity of those participating in the Kurukṣetra conflict.