Shloka 17

Sainyasaṅgraha and Bhāga-Vyavasthā (Forces Assembled and Rival Allocations) | सैन्यसंग्रह-भागव्यवस्था

Devanagari script

महेष्वासा राजपुत्रा भ्रातर: पठ्च केकया: । केकयानेव भागेन कृत्वा योत्स्यन्ति संयुगे

Transliteration

maheṣvāsā rājaputrā bhrātaraḥ pañca kekayāḥ | kekayān eva bhāgena kṛtvā yotsyanti saṃyuge ||

Translation

کیکیہ کے پانچوں شہزادہ بھائی بڑے کمان دار ہیں۔ وہ میدانِ جنگ میں کیکیوں ہی کو اپنا مقررہ حصہ سمجھ کر لڑیں گے۔

Word by Word

• महेष्वासाः: great archers (having great bows)
• महेष्वासाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• राजपुत्राः: princes (sons of a king)
• राजपुत्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• पञ्च: five
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्च

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

• केकयान्: the Kekayas (as opponents)
• केकयान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: केकय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• एव: indeed/only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• भागेन: as (their) share/portion; by way of share
• भागेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• कृत्वा: having made/considered
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• योत्स्यन्ति: they will fight
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध्
• Form: Lṛṭ (simple future), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• संयुगे: in battle
• संयुगे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयुग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kekaya princes (five brothers)
• Kekaya (people/realm)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames warfare in terms of kṣatriya obligation and ‘bhāga’—one’s allotted portion—suggesting that in a vast conflict each warrior meets the opponents assigned by circumstance, and must act with resolve within that role.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra about the forces and intentions of allied fighters: the five Kekaya princes, famed as archers, will enter the battle and specifically engage Kekaya-side opponents, regarding them as their designated adversaries in the coming war.