Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 76

Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna-yuddha (द्रोण-धृष्टद्युम्न-युद्धम्) — Tactical duel and allied interventions

Devanagari script

केकया भ्रातर: पञ्च गान्धारान्‌ पञठ्च मारिष | ससैन्यास्ते ससैन्यांश्ष॒ योधयामासुराहवे

Transliteration

kekayā bhrātaraḥ pañca gāndhārān pañca māriṣa | sa-sainyās te sa-sainyāṁś ca yodhayāmāsur āhave rājan ||

Translation

Sañjaya disse: Ó rei, os cinco irmãos de Kekaya, chegando com suas forças, travaram batalha contra os cinco guerreiros de Gandhāra, que também se mantinham com suas próprias tropas. Assim, com exércitos de ambos os lados, o choque se desenrolou na grande guerra.

Word by Word

• केकयाः: the Kekayas
• केकयाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: केकय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भ्रातरः: brothers
• भ्रातरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• गान्धारान्: the Gandharas
• गान्धारान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्धार
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• मारिष: O noble one / O sir
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारिष
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• ससैन्याः: with their army
• ससैन्याः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-सैन्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ससैन्यान्: who had their armies (i.e., with their forces)
• ससैन्यान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-सैन्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• योधयामासुः: they caused to fight / they fought (engaged in battle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध्
• Form: Perfect (Periphrastic Perfect), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada, Indicative

• आहवे: in battle
• आहवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहव
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dhritarashtra (implied by 'rājan')
• Kekaya (people/warriors)
• the five Kekaya brothers
• Gandhara (people/warriors)
• the five Gandhara warriors

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the epic reality of kshatriya-dharma in wartime: once alliances are formed and armies assembled, duty and loyalty to one’s side drive combat even against equally valorous opponents. It highlights how collective obligations and political bonds intensify conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports to the king that the five Kekaya brothers, supported by their troops, begin fighting against five Gandhara warriors who also stand with their own forces—marking a specific engagement within the larger Kurukshetra battle.