Shloka 26
Chapter 19: Prativyūha of the Pāṇḍavas — Vajra (Acala) Formation and Dawn Omens
अक्षीौहिण्याथ पाज्चाल्यो यज्ञसेनो महामना: । विराटमन्वयात् पश्चात् पाण्डवार्थ पराक्रमी,महामना पराक्रमी पांचालराज ट्रुपद पाण्डवोंके लिये एक अक्षौहिणी सेनाके सहित राजा विराटके पीछे-पीछे चल रहे थे
akṣauhiṇyātha pāñcālyo yajñaseno mahāmanāḥ | virāṭam anvayāt paścāt pāṇḍavārthe parākramaḥ ||
Disse Sañjaya: Então o magnânimo rei de Pāñcāla, Yajñasena (Drupada), guerreiro poderoso, avançou pela causa dos Pāṇḍava com uma akṣauhiṇī completa de tropas, seguindo atrás do rei Virāṭa—sinal de aliança firme e apoio comprometido enquanto as formações de guerra se reuniam.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic solidarity: righteous allies do not offer merely words but concrete support—here, Drupada commits an entire akṣauhiṇī for the Pāṇḍavas’ cause, embodying loyalty, duty between allied kings, and readiness to uphold a chosen side in a moral conflict.
Sañjaya reports the mobilization and ordering of the Pāṇḍava-aligned forces: Drupada of Pāñcāla, called Yajñasena, marches with one akṣauhiṇī and proceeds behind King Virāṭa, indicating their coordinated movement and battle-array as the war preparations culminate.