Shloka 18

कुरुक्षेत्रे सेनानिवेशवृत्तान्तः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra Questions Saṃjaya on the Deployed Armies

Devanagari script

रौक्मिणेयाहुकसुतैश्चवारुदेष्णपुरोगमै: । वृष्णिमुख्यैरधिगतैर्व्याप्रैरिव बलोत्कटै:

Transliteration

raukmiṇeyāhukasutaiś ca vāru-deṣṇapurogamaiḥ | vṛṣṇimukhyair adhigatair vyāprair iva balotkaṭaiḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana nói: Ngài được tháp tùng bởi Raukmiṇeya và các con trai của Ahuka, với Vāru và Deṣṇa đi đầu—những bậc ưu tú của dòng Vṛṣṇi tụ hội quanh ngài, sung sức và đáng gờm, như các dũng sĩ hùng cường đã chuyển mình vào cuộc hành động.

Word by Word

रौक्मिणेयby Raukmiṇeya (Pradyumna)

आहुकसुतैःby the sons of Āhuka

चand

वारुदेष्णby Vārudeṣṇa

पुरोगमैःwith leaders at the front / led by (them)

वृष्णिमुख्यैःby the chief Vṛṣṇis

अधिगतैःarrived/come up (to him), having reached

व्याप्रैःbusy, active, engaged

इवas if / like

बलोत्कटैःmighty in strength / very powerful

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Raukmiṇeya (Pradyumna)

Āhuka (and his sons/descendants)

Vāru

Deṣṇa

Vṛṣṇis

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical-political ideal of preparedness and solidarity: capable leaders and allied clans must be organized, alert, and ready to act decisively when dharma and public order are at stake.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a scene of mobilization: prominent Vṛṣṇi leaders—Pradyumna (Raukmiṇeya), the sons of Āhuka, and others led by Vāru and Deṣṇa—assemble energetically, forming a powerful entourage ready for action.