Shloka 2
ट्रपदसुतवरिष्ठा: पठ्च शैनेयषष्ठा द्रुपददुहितृपुत्रा: प्च चामित्रसाहा: । द्विरदरथनराश्चान् सूदयन्तस्त्वदीयान् भुजगपतिनिकाशैर्मार्गणैरात्तशस्त्रा:
drupadasutavariṣṭhāḥ pañca śaineyaṣaṣṭhā drupadaduhitṛputrāḥ pañca cāmitrasāhāḥ | dviradarathanarāś cān sūdayantas tvadīyān bhujagapatinikāśair mārgaṇair āttaśastrāḥ ||
Sañjaya disse: “Ó rei, os cinco mais eminentes filhos de Drupada—tendo Śaineya (Sātyaki) como o sexto—e os cinco filhos de Draupadī, todos valentes e inconquistáveis diante dos inimigos, chegaram velozes em seus carros. Com armas em punho, iam dizimando as tuas forças—elefantes, carros e infantes—com flechas como as do rei das serpentes. Seus estandartes ondulavam ao vento; seus cavalos saltavam adiante; e eles bradavam em alta voz enquanto avançavam.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds kṣatriya-dharma in its epic form: disciplined courage and coordinated action in defense of one’s side. Ethically, it also highlights how war magnifies collective responsibility—heroes act not as isolated individuals but as a unit whose prowess brings large-scale consequences to entire armies.
Sañjaya reports to the king that a compact strike-force has arrived: Drupada’s five sons, Sātyaki as the sixth, and Draupadī’s five sons. Armed and advancing rapidly in chariots, they are slaughtering the king’s troops—elephants, chariots, and infantry—using deadly, serpent-like arrows, with banners streaming and battle-cries resounding.