Shloka 463
Adhyāya 113: Karṇa–Bhīma Śaravarṣa and the Battlefield Aftermath (कर्णभीमशरवर्षः)
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
ete samāhitās tāta rakṣiṣyanti na saṁśayaḥ | tāta pañca bhrātaraḥ kaikeyarājakumārāḥ, rākṣasaḥ ghaṭotkacaḥ, virāṭaḥ, drupadaḥ, mahārathī śikhaṇḍī, dhṛṣṭaketuḥ, balavān māmā kuntibhojaḥ (purujit), nakulaḥ, sahadevaḥ, pāñcālāḥ tathā sañjayavīragaṇāḥ—ete sarve sāvadhānāḥ niḥsaṁdehaṁ mama rakṣāṁ kariṣyanti |
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “These men, alert and composed, will protect me—of this there is no doubt. The five Kaikeya princes, the rākṣasa Ghaṭotkaca, Virāṭa, Drupada, the great chariot-warrior Śikhaṇḍin, Dhṛṣṭaketu, my powerful maternal uncle Kuntibhoja (Purujit), Nakula and Sahadeva, along with the Pāñcālas and the band of heroic fighters—each of them, vigilant, will surely stand as my guard.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, righteous leadership depends on steadiness (samāhita) and vigilant cooperation. Yudhiṣṭhira’s confidence rests not on arrogance but on disciplined guardianship and the ethical duty of allies to protect the vulnerable center of command.
In the Drona Parva’s intense battle setting, Yudhiṣṭhira names key allies—Kaikeya princes, Ghaṭotkaca, Virāṭa, Drupada, Śikhaṇḍin, Dhṛṣṭaketu, Kuntibhoja (Purujit), Nakula, Sahadeva, and the Pāñcālas—affirming that they are prepared and will certainly protect him.