Shloka 25

धृतराष्ट्रविलापः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament and Inquiry (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 2)

Devanagari script

अथवा सर्व एवैते पाण्डवस्यानुयायिभि:

Transliteration

athavā sarva evaite pāṇḍavasyānuyāyibhiḥ

Translation

Or else, all of these men are followers and supporters of the Pāṇḍava—those who stand behind him in allegiance. The line underscores how, in war, loyalties and affiliations define who is counted as friend or foe, and how collective responsibility gathers around a leader’s cause.

Word by Word

• अथवा: or, alternatively
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• एते: these
• एते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पाण्डवस्य: of the Pandava
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अनुयायिभिः: by/with the followers
• अनुयायिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुयायिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

धघतयाट्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Pāṇḍava(s)
• followers/supporters (anuyāyin)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that in conflict, people are often judged by allegiance: association with a leader’s cause can determine moral and strategic categorization, emphasizing the ethical weight of choosing whom to follow.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker is characterizing a group as aligned with the Pāṇḍavas, framing them as part of the Pāṇḍava camp through their role as supporters and followers—an assessment relevant to decisions in the unfolding battle context.