Shloka 43
दमयन्त्याः व्याकुलता — स्वयंवरसंनिपातः — देवदूतयाचनम्
Damayantī’s Distress, Proclamation of the Svayaṃvara, and the Gods’ Request
रामश्न कृष्णश्व धनंजयश्न प्रद्युम्नसाम्बी युयुधानभीमौ । माद्रीसुतीो केकयराजपुत्रा: पाञ्चालपुत्रा: सह मत्स्यराज्ञा,बलराम, श्रीकृष्ण, अर्जुन, प्रद्युम्न, साम्ब, सात्यकि, भीमसेन, नकुल, सहदेव, केकयराजकुमार, द्रपद और उनके पुत्र तथा मत्स्यनरेश विराट--ये सब-के-सब विश्वविख्यात अजेय वीर हैं। ये महामना जब अपने सगे-सम्बन्धियों और सेनाके साथ धावा करेंगे, उस समय क्रोधमें भरे हुए केसरी सिंहोंके समान उन महावीरोंका समरमें जीवनकी इच्छा रखनेवाला कौन पुरुष सामना करेगा?
rāmaś ca kṛṣṇaś ca dhanañjayaś ca pradyumna-sāmbaḥ yuyudhāna-bhīmau | mādrī-sutau kekaya-rāja-putrāḥ pāñcāla-putrāḥ saha matsya-rājñā ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Balarāma and Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and Arjuna (Dhanañjaya); Pradyumna and Sāmba; Sātyaki (Yuyudhāna) and Bhīmasena; the two sons of Mādrī (Nakula and Sahadeva); the princes of Kekaya; and the sons of the Pāñcālas together with the Matsya king—these are all world-renowned, unconquerable heroes. When such great-souled warriors, inflamed with wrath, charge into battle with their own kinsmen and their armies, like lions in fury—what man who still wishes to live could stand against them in combat?”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical and strategic weight of righteous alliances: when many renowned, duty-bound warriors unite for a just cause, their collective resolve becomes a powerful deterrent. It also reflects kṣatriya-dharma—courage and readiness to protect kin and justice—while warning that uncontrolled wrath in war is overwhelming and dangerous.
Yudhiṣṭhira lists the principal champions allied to the Pāṇḍavas—Vṛṣṇi heroes (Balarāma, Kṛṣṇa, Pradyumna, Sāmba, Sātyaki), the Pāṇḍavas (Arjuna, Bhīma, Nakula, Sahadeva), and allied royal houses (Kekaya, Pāñcāla under Drupada, and Matsya under Virāṭa). He argues that if these warriors attack together in battle-fury, no opponent who values his life could face them.