Shloka 7
|! /__ 0:2४! |॥| 68 तथैवाक्षौहिणीं गृह चेदीनामृषभो बली । धृष्टकेतुरुपागच्छत् पाण्डवानमितौजस:,इसी प्रकार महाबली चेदिराज धृष्टकेतु अपनी एक अक्षौहिणी सेना साथ लेकर अमित तेजस्वी पाण्डवोंके पास आये
tathaivākṣauhiṇīṃ gṛhya cedīnām ṛṣabho balī | dhṛṣṭaketur upāgacchat pāṇḍavān amitaujasaḥ ||
Demikian juga, Dhṛṣṭaketu—pahlawan perkasa, laksana lembu jantan unggul dalam kalangan Cedi—berangkat dengan membawa satu akṣauhiṇī tentera yang lengkap, lalu datang kepada para Pāṇḍava yang keberaniannya tiada terukur.
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of allegiance: as war becomes inevitable, rulers and clans must choose where to stand. Strength (bala) is presented as meaningful when aligned with a chosen cause and loyalty, shaping the moral and political order leading into the conflict.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates that Dhṛṣṭaketu, the powerful leader among the Cedis, arrives to support the Pāṇḍavas, bringing with him an entire akṣauhiṇī of troops—one more major ally joining their side during the preparations for war.