Shloka 9
Chapter 23: Śakuni Reports, Kaurava Advance, and Arjuna’s Penetration of the Host
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा रथान् सप्तशतान् रणे | प्रैषयद् यत्र राजासौ धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिर:
tato duryodhano rājā rathān saptśatān raṇe | praiṣayad yatra rājāsau dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Kemudian Raja Duryodhana mengutus tujuh ratus kereta perang ke medan, menuju ke tempat raja itu—Yudhiṣṭhira, putera Dharma—berada.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how adharma often attempts to defeat dharma not by moral argument but by concentrating power and force against righteous leadership. It invites reflection on kingship: true authority is measured by alignment with dharma, even when confronted by overwhelming might.
Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana orders a large chariot contingent—seven hundred—to move toward the position of Yudhiṣṭhira. It is a tactical decision to pressure or break the Pandava center by striking at their king.