Chapter 49: Sañjaya’s Enumeration of the Pāṇḍava Coalition (पाण्डवसैन्यसमागम-वर्णनम्)
य आसीच्छरणं काले पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् | रणे तेन विराटेन भविता व: समागम:,जो अज्ञातवासके समय महात्मा पाण्डवोंके आश्रयदाता थे, उन राजा विराटके साथ भी आपलोगोंका युद्ध होगा
ya āsīc charaṇaṃ kāle pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām | raṇe tena virāṭena bhavitā vaḥ samāgamaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Dia yang pada saat genting menjadi tempat berlindung dan pelindung bagi para Pāṇḍava yang berhati luhur—dengan Raja Virāṭa itulah juga kamu akan bertemu di medan perang.”
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: political conflict can force confrontation even with those who once offered protection. It implicitly underscores the value of remembering benefaction and the tragic reach of adharma-driven hostilities.
Sañjaya informs Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s side that the coming war will draw in allies of the Pāṇḍavas, including King Virāṭa, who had earlier sheltered them during their period of concealment; thus, the Kauravas will also face Virāṭa in battle.