Shloka 45

Adhyāya 113: Karṇa–Bhīma Śaravarṣa and the Battlefield Aftermath (कर्णभीमशरवर्षः)

Devanagari script

केकया भ्रातर: पज्च राक्षसक्ष घटोत्कच: । विराटो द्रुपदश्चैव शिखण्डी च महारथ:,एते समाहितास्तात रक्षिष्यन्ति न संशय: । तात! पाँच भाई केकयराजकुमार, राक्षस घटोत्कच, विराट, ट्रपद, महारथी शिखण्डी, धृष्टकेतु, बलवान्‌ मामा कुन्तिभोज (पुरुजित), नकुल, सहदेव, पांचाल तथा सूंजय-वीरगण --ये सभी सावधान होकर निःसंदेह मेरी रक्षा करेंगे

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |

kekayā bhrātaraḥ pañca rākṣasaś ca ghaṭotkacaḥ |

virāṭo drupadaś caiva śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ |

ete samāhitās tāta rakṣiṣyanti na saṁśayaḥ ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “The five brothers of Kekaya, and the rākṣasa Ghaṭotkaca; Virāṭa and Drupada as well; and the great chariot-warrior Śikhaṇḍin—these, fully alert, dear one, will surely protect (me). There is no doubt.” In the ethical frame of the epic, Yudhiṣṭhira’s words reflect responsible kingship under crisis: he does not rely on mere hope, but on disciplined, pledged protectors, affirming solidarity and duty (rakṣaṇa-dharma) amid the chaos of war.

Word by Word

• {'kekayāḥ': 'the Kekayas (people/royal house of Kekaya)', 'bhrātaraḥ': 'brothers', 'pañca': 'five', 'rākṣasaḥ': 'a rākṣasa (demon-like being

• here a warrior-ally)', 'ghaṭotkacaḥ': 'Ghaṭotkaca (Bhīma’s son, famed for night-fighting and māyā)', 'virāṭaḥ': 'Virāṭa (king of Matsya, ally of the Pāṇḍavas)', 'drupadaḥ': 'Drupada (king of Pāñcāla, ally

• father of Draupadī and Dhṛṣṭadyumna)', 'caiva': 'and indeed/also', 'śikhaṇḍī': 'Śikhaṇḍin (Pāñcāla warrior, instrumental against Bhīṣma)', 'mahārathaḥ': 'great chariot-warrior (highest battlefield rank)', 'ete': 'these (persons)', 'samāhitāḥ': 'composed, attentive, fully prepared', 'tāta': 'dear one/son (an affectionate address)', 'rakṣiṣyanti': 'will protect/guard', 'na saṁśayaḥ': 'no doubt'}

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Kekaya (people/royal house)
• Five Kekaya brothers
• Ghaṭotkaca
• Virāṭa
• Drupada
• Śikhaṇḍin

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In a time of danger, righteous leadership rests on vigilance, reliable alliances, and the protective duty (rakṣaṇa) of capable warriors. Confidence is grounded not in arrogance but in disciplined preparedness and pledged support.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira names key allies—Kekaya princes, Ghaṭotkaca, Virāṭa, Drupada, and Śikhaṇḍin—assuring someone addressed as “tāta” that these warriors, being alert and ready, will certainly protect him on the battlefield.