Shloka 21

द्रुपदवाक्यं

Drupada’s Counsel on Conciliation and Alliance Mobilization

Devanagari script

तुण्डश्न दण्डधारश्न बृहत्सेनश्व वीर्यवान्‌ । अपराजितो निषादश्च श्रेणिमान्‌ वसुमानपि

Transliteration

tuṇḍaśna daṇḍadhāraś ca bṛhatsenaś ca vīryavān | aparājito niṣādaś ca śreṇimān vasumān api ||

Translation

ദ്രുപദൻ പറഞ്ഞു—“തുണ്ഡശ്നനും ദണ്ഡധാരനും, വീര്യവാനായ ബൃഹത്സേനനും; അപരാജിതനും നിഷാദനും; ശ്രേണിമാനും വസുമാനും കൂടി.”

Word by Word

तुण्डश्नःTuṇḍaśna (a proper name)

दण्डधारःDaṇḍadhāra (staff-bearer; proper name)

बृहत्सेनःBṛhatsena (he of a great army; proper name)

चand

वीर्यवान्valorous, possessing prowess

अपराजितःunconquered, invincible

निषादःNiṣāda (a proper name / the Niṣāda chief)

चand

श्रेणिमान्having a troop/company; in ranks

वसुमान्wealthy, possessing riches

अपिalso, even

Speaker

दुपद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Drupada

Tuṇḍaśna

Daṇḍadhāra

Bṛhatsena

Aparājita

Niṣāda

Śreṇimān

Vasumān

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the importance of organized support and steadfast commitment in a righteous cause: leaders must know their allies and strengths, and act with resolve as conflict approaches.

What is happening in the narrative?

Drupada is naming additional warriors/allies, continuing an enumeration of forces and supporters in the Udyoga Parva’s build-up to war.