Shloka 26
Chapter 19: Prativyūha of the Pāṇḍavas — Vajra (Acala) Formation and Dawn Omens
अक्षीौहिण्याथ पाज्चाल्यो यज्ञसेनो महामना: । विराटमन्वयात् पश्चात् पाण्डवार्थ पराक्रमी,महामना पराक्रमी पांचालराज ट्रुपद पाण्डवोंके लिये एक अक्षौहिणी सेनाके सहित राजा विराटके पीछे-पीछे चल रहे थे
akṣauhiṇyātha pāñcālyo yajñaseno mahāmanāḥ | virāṭam anvayāt paścāt pāṇḍavārthe parākramaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Kemudian raja Pāñcāla yang mulia, Yajñasena (Drupada), seorang pahlawan perkasa, mara demi pihak Pāṇḍava dengan satu akṣauhiṇī tentera yang lengkap, berjalan di belakang Raja Virāṭa—tanda persekutuan yang teguh dan sokongan yang tidak berbelah bahagi ketika formasi perang dihimpunkan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic solidarity: righteous allies do not offer merely words but concrete support—here, Drupada commits an entire akṣauhiṇī for the Pāṇḍavas’ cause, embodying loyalty, duty between allied kings, and readiness to uphold a chosen side in a moral conflict.
Sañjaya reports the mobilization and ordering of the Pāṇḍava-aligned forces: Drupada of Pāñcāla, called Yajñasena, marches with one akṣauhiṇī and proceeds behind King Virāṭa, indicating their coordinated movement and battle-array as the war preparations culminate.