Shloka 31

अध्याय ८२ — केशवप्रयाणे निमित्तदर्शनम्

Omens and Reception During Keśava’s Departure

Devanagari script

चेकितानश्न विक्रान्तो धृष्टकेतुश्च चेदिप: । द्रपद: काशिराजश्न शिखण्डी च महारथ:

Transliteration

Vaishampāyana uvāca |

Cekitānaś ca vikrānto Dhṛṣṭaketuś ca Cedi-paḥ |

Drupadaḥ Kāśirājaś ca Śikhaṇḍī ca mahā-rathaḥ ||

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: доблестный Чекитана и Дхришта-кету, царь Чеди; Друпада и царь Каши; и Шикханди, великий колесничий воин, — эти знатнейшие кшатрии шли следом, сопровождая первых вождей по правилам царского благочиния и ради исполнения задуманной миссии.

Word by Word

• चेकितानः: Chekitana
• चेकितानः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेकितान
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• विक्रान्तः: valiant, courageous
• विक्रान्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विक्रान्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धृष्टकेतुः: Dhrishtaketu
• धृष्टकेतुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृष्टकेतु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• चेदिपः: king of Cedi
• चेदिपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेदिप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• द्रुपदः: Drupada
• द्रुपदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुपद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• काशिराजः: king of Kashi
• काशिराजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशिराज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• शिखण्डी: Shikhandi
• शिखण्डी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• महारथः: great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Cekitāna
• Dhṛṣṭaketu
• Cedi (Cedi kingdom)
• Drupada
• Kāśirāja (King of Kāśi)
• Kāśi (kingdom)
• Śikhaṇḍī

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed as disciplined companionship: allies proceed together to fulfill a shared purpose while observing proper conduct (maryādā/ācāra). Duty is shown not only in battle-readiness but also in respectful, orderly support of leadership.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana lists prominent allied warriors and kings—Cekitāna, Dhṛṣṭaketu of Cedi, Drupada, the king of Kāśi, and Śikhaṇḍī—who are moving in attendance behind the principal figures, indicating a coordinated escort/retinue and the gathering of forces and supporters in the Udyoga (preparatory) phase.