Shloka 23
भारत! उसमें एक हजार हाथीसवार, दस हजार घुड़सवार, एक हजार रथी और कई सहस्र पैदल सैनिक थे ।। चेकितान: स्वसैन्येन महता पार्थिवर्षभ । धृष्टकेतुश्न चेदीनां प्रणेता पार्थिवों ययौ,नृपश्रेष्ठ॒ अपनी विशाल सेनाके साथ चेकितान तथा चेदिराज धृष्टकेतु भी उन्हींके साथ जा रहे थे
vaiśampāyana uvāca | bharata! tatra gajasāhasram, aśvasāhasra-daśakam, rathisāhasram, padātīnāṁ ca bahu-sahasram āsīt | cekitānaḥ sva-sainyena mahatā pārthivarṣabha | dhṛṣṭaketuś ca cedīnāṁ praṇetā pārthivo yayau nṛpaśreṣṭha ||
तस्मिन् बले, हे भारत, गजसाहस्रं हयायुतं रथसाहस्रं च बहवः पदातयः। चेकितानः महता स्वसैन्येन सह ययौ, चेदीनां प्रणेता पार्थिवो धृष्टकेतुश्च तैः सह प्रस्थितः॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined preparation and the gathering of allies under recognized leaders, implying that when rulers move toward conflict, they bear heightened responsibility to act with restraint, clarity of purpose, and adherence to dharma.
Vaiśampāyana enumerates the troop composition and notes that Cekitāna, along with Dhṛṣṭaketu—the leader of the Cedis—marches with a large force, indicating allied kings joining together as the great war approaches.