Shloka 39
द्रोण–सात्यकि-युद्धम्
Droṇa–Sātyaki Engagement
मावेल्लका ललित्थाक्ष केकया मद्रकास्तथा । नारायणाक्ष् गोपाला: काम्बोजानां च ये गणा:,इनके पीछे दस हजार रथी, अभीषाह, शूरसेन, शिबि, वसाति, मावेल्लक, ललित्थ, केकय, मद्रक, नारायण नामक गोपालगण तथा काम्बोजदेशीय सैनिकगण भी थे। इन सबको पूर्वकालमें कर्णने रणभूमिमें जीतकर अपने अधीन कर लिया था। ये सब-के-सब शूरवीरोंद्वारा सम्मानित योद्धा थे और प्रसन्नचित्त हो द्रोणाचार्यको आगे करके अर्जुनपर चढ़ आये थे
sañjaya uvāca |
māvellakā lalitthākṣāḥ kekayā madrakās tathā |
nārāyaṇākṣ gopālāḥ kāmbojānāṃ ca ye gaṇāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “There were also the Māvellakas, the Lalitthākṣas, the Kekayas, and the Madrakas; likewise the cowherd-bands known as the Nārāyaṇākṣas, and the various companies of the Kāmbojas.” In the unfolding of the war, these named peoples and troops are presented as allied contingents—once subdued and brought under Karṇa’s influence—now advancing in disciplined formation behind their leaders, their valor socially affirmed and their purpose fixed upon the assault against Arjuna under Droṇa’s command. The passage underscores how political subjugation and martial reputation bind diverse groups into a single war-machine, raising the ethical tension between personal duty to commanders and the broader devastation such alliances enable.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how diverse communities become instruments of a larger conflict through conquest, allegiance, and reputation. Ethically, it points to the tension between loyalty to commanders and the collective consequences of war, where valor and social honor can be mobilized to sustain destructive campaigns.
Sañjaya enumerates additional allied contingents—Māvellakas, Lalitthākṣas, Kekayas, Madrakas, Nārāyaṇākṣa cowherd-bands, and Kāmboja companies—who are part of the force advancing in the battle context described (with Droṇa at the fore and Arjuna as the target in the supplied prose).