Shloka 6
Adhyāya 152: Kaurava-sainyavibhāgaḥ
Division and Standardization of the Kaurava Host
धष्टद्युम्नश्व॒ पाज्चाल्य: शिखण्डी च महारथ: । युधामन्युश्न विक्रान्तो देवैरपि दुरासद:
Janamejaya uvāca |
Dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pāñcālyaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ |
Yudhāmanyuś ca vikrānto devair api durāsadaḥ, tapodhana |
Pāṇḍavā bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇo virāṭaḥ drupadaḥ pāñcālarājakumāraḥ dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ mahārathī śikhaṇḍī tathā devatābhir api durjayo mahāparākramaḥ yudhāmanyuḥ—ete sarve tu saṅgrāme ekatrībhūte indrasahitaṃ sampūrṇaṃ devagaṇaṃ api pīḍayituṃ śaknuvanti; ataḥ tatra kauravaiḥ pāṇḍavaiś ca yo-yo karma kṛtaṃ tat sarvaṃ vistareṇa śrotum icchāmi |
तपोधन! धृष्टद्युम्नः पाञ्चाल्यः शिखण्डी च महारथः। युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्तो देवैरपि दुरासदः॥ एते पाण्डवैः सह श्रीकृष्णविराटद्रुपदैश्च संग्रामे समागता सेन्द्रानपि देवान् व्यथयेयुः; तस्मात् तत्र कौरवपाण्डवयोः सर्वं विचेष्टितं विस्तरेण श्रोतुमिच्छामि।
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how collective strength and righteous alliances can become formidable, while also modeling the ethical posture of inquiry: Janamejaya seeks a detailed account of actions (karma) by both sides, implying that understanding consequences and conduct is essential for judging dharma within conflict.
Janamejaya addresses the ascetic narrator and lists major Pāṇḍava-aligned warriors and kings, emphasizing their battle power—so great it could distress even the gods led by Indra. On that basis he requests a full, detailed narration of what the Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas did in that situation.