Shloka 23
धृतराष्ट्रविलापः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament and Inquiry (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 2)
चेदींश्व नृपशार्दूल द्रौपदेयांश्व॒ संयुगे । सात्यकिं कुन्तिभोजं च राक्षसं च घटोत्कचम्,'राजसिंह! मैं युद्धस्थलमें चेदियों, द्रौपदीकुमारों, सात्यकि, कुन्तिभोज तथा राक्षस घटोत्कचका भी सामना करूँगा
cedīṁś ca nṛpaśārdūla draupadeyāṁś ca saṁyuge | sātyakiṁ kuntibhojaṁ ca rākṣasaṁ ca ghaṭotkacam ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “O tiger among kings, on the battlefield I shall also confront the Cedis, the sons of Draupadī, Sātyaki, Kuntibhoja, and the rākṣasa Ghaṭotkaca.” The statement underscores the speaker’s grim resolve to face even renowned allies and formidable warriors, reflecting the escalating moral and strategic stakes of the war.
धघतयाट्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the uncompromising resolve expected in a kṣatriya context: once war is joined, one must be prepared to face even celebrated and fearsome opponents. Ethically, it points to the gravity of choosing war—commitment brings unavoidable confrontation with many lives and reputations at stake.
The speaker lists prominent Pāṇḍava-aligned fighters—Cedi forces, Draupadī’s sons, Sātyaki, Kuntibhoja, and the rākṣasa Ghaṭotkaca—declaring readiness to meet them in battle, signaling the intensification of the conflict and the recognition of formidable adversaries.