Shloka 176
सेनासमागमः — The Convergence of Armies
अक्षौहिण्यैव सेनाया दुर्योधनमुपागमत् । हृदिकपुत्र कृतवर्मा भी भोज, अन्धक तथा कुकुरवंशी वीरोंके साथ एक अक्षौहिणी सेना लेकर दुर्योधनके पास आया
akṣauhiṇyaiva senayā duryodhanam upāgamat | hṛdikaputraḥ kṛtavarmā bhī bhojaḥ āndhakaḥ tathā kukuravaṁśī vīraiḥ saha ekām akṣauhiṇīṁ senāṁ gṛhītvā duryodhanasya samīpam ājagāma |
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。「フリディカ（Hṛdika）の子クリトヴァルマー（Kṛtavarmā）は、丸ごと一アクシャウヒニー（akṣauhiṇī）の軍を率い、ボージャ（Bhoja）・アーンドハカ（Āndhaka）・ククーラ（Kukura）の諸族の勇士を伴って、ドゥルヨーダナのもとへ来た。かくしてまた一つの大軍勢がドゥルヨーダナに与し、道義と政略の勢いはいよいよ戦へと傾いていった。」
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how choices of alliance and loyalty can accelerate adharma-driven conflict: powerful warriors and entire divisions may commit themselves to a cause, thereby increasing the inevitability and scale of war. It implicitly invites reflection on responsibility—strength and numbers do not by themselves confer righteousness.
During the Udyoga Parva’s war-preparation phase, Kṛtavarmā, son of Hṛdika, arrives to support Duryodhana, bringing an akṣauhiṇī force along with warriors from the Bhoja, Āndhaka, and Kukura lineages—marking a significant reinforcement of the Kaurava side.