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 |
ವೈಶಂಪಾಯನನು ಹೇಳಿದನು— ಹೃದಿಕನ ಪುತ್ರ ಕೃತವರ್ಮನು ಭೋಜ, ಆಂಧಕ ಮತ್ತು ಕುಕುರುವಂಶದ ವೀರರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಅಕ್ಷೌಹಿಣಿ ಸೇನೆಯನ್ನು ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡು ದುರ್ಯೋಧನನ ಬಳಿಗೆ ಬಂದನು.
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.