Shloka 2
Adhyāya 152: Kaurava-sainyavibhāgaḥ
Division and Standardization of the Kaurava Host
विराटद्रुपदाभ्यां च सपुत्राभ्यां समन्वितम् | केकयैरव॑ष्णिभिश्लैव पार्थिव: शतशो वृतम्
virāṭa-drupadābhyāṁ ca sa-putrābhyāṁ samanvitam | kekayair vṛṣṇibhiś caiva pārthivaḥ śataśo vṛtam ||
Janamejaya berkata: “(Angkatan Yudhiṣṭhira) disertai oleh Virāṭa dan Drupada bersama anak-anak mereka, dan dikepung pula oleh kaum Kekaya serta Vṛṣṇi—dikelilingi ratusan raja. Apabila Duryodhana mendengar bahawa Yudhiṣṭhira, yang berniat perang dan dilindungi oleh Śrī Kṛṣṇa, telah tiba di Kurukṣetra dan mendirikan kemah di sana—ditemani Virāṭa dan Drupada beserta putera-putera mereka, serta dijaga ramai maharathi bagaikan Indra dikelilingi para Āditya—apakah yang dilakukannya ketika itu?”
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how righteous strength in the epic is not merely personal valor but the convergence of dharmic alliances and protection—political, familial, and (through Kṛṣṇa) moral-spiritual. It frames war as a consequence of choices, where the gathering of allies signals both legitimacy and responsibility.
Janamejaya asks the sage to narrate Duryodhana’s response after he learns that Yudhiṣṭhira has reached Kurukṣetra, set up camp, and is strongly protected—joined by Virāṭa and Drupada with their sons, supported by Kekaya princes and Vṛṣṇi warriors, and surrounded by many kings and great chariot-fighters.