Shloka 7
सेनासमागमः — The Convergence of Armies
|! /__ 0:2४! |॥| 68 तथैवाक्षौहिणीं गृह चेदीनामृषभो बली । धृष्टकेतुरुपागच्छत् पाण्डवानमितौजस:,इसी प्रकार महाबली चेदिराज धृष्टकेतु अपनी एक अक्षौहिणी सेना साथ लेकर अमित तेजस्वी पाण्डवोंके पास आये
tathaivākṣauhiṇīṃ gṛhya cedīnām ṛṣabho balī | dhṛṣṭaketur upāgacchat pāṇḍavān amitaujasaḥ ||
Cũng như thế, Dhrishtaketu—dũng tướng hùng mạnh, bậc trượng phu kiệt xuất trong hàng Cedi—đã dẫn theo trọn một đạo quân akṣauhiṇī, lên đường và đến với các Pāṇḍava, những người có uy lực không thể lường.
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of allegiance: as war becomes inevitable, rulers and clans must choose where to stand. Strength (bala) is presented as meaningful when aligned with a chosen cause and loyalty, shaping the moral and political order leading into the conflict.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates that Dhṛṣṭaketu, the powerful leader among the Cedis, arrives to support the Pāṇḍavas, bringing with him an entire akṣauhiṇī of troops—one more major ally joining their side during the preparations for war.