Shloka 9

Sainyasaṅgraha and Bhāga-Vyavasthā (Forces Assembled and Rival Allocations) | सैन्यसंग्रह-भागव्यवस्था

Devanagari script

केकया भ्रातर: पज्च सर्वे लोहितकध्वजा: । अक्षौहिणीपरिवृता: पाण्डवानभिसंश्रिता:,लाल रंगकी ध्वजावाले जो पाँचों भाई केकयराजकुमार हैं, वे सभी एक अक्षौहिणी सेनाके साथ पाण्डवोंकी सेवामें उपस्थित हुए हैं

Transliteration

kekayā bhrātaraḥ pañca sarve lohitakadhvajāḥ | akṣauhiṇīparivṛtāḥ pāṇḍavān abhisaṃśritāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Lima bersaudara dari Kekaya, semuanya mengibarkan panji merah tua, telah tiba dikelilingi oleh satu akṣauhiṇī tentera, lalu menempatkan diri untuk berkhidmat kepada para Pāṇḍava—suatu ikrar setia yang nyata.

Word by Word

केकयाःthe Kekayas (men of Kekaya)

भ्रातरःbrothers

पञ्चfive

सर्वेall

लोहितकध्वजाःhaving red banners

अक्षौहिणीपरिवृताःsurrounded/attended by an akṣauhiṇī (army division)

पाण्डवान्the Pāṇḍavas

अभिसंश्रिताःhaving resorted to / having joined / having taken refuge with

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Kekaya (people/kingdom)

the five Kekaya brothers (princes)

Pāṇḍavas

akṣauhiṇī (army division)

crimson banners (lohitaka-dhvaja)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma expressed through chosen allegiance: powerful allies publicly commit to the Pāṇḍavas, suggesting that in times of moral crisis, neutrality fades and duty is shown by standing with the side one deems just.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the five Kekaya princes, identifiable by red banners, have arrived with an entire akṣauhiṇī and have aligned themselves with the Pāṇḍavas, strengthening their coalition on the eve of conflict.