Shloka 9
भीष्म-द्रोणादिभिः पाण्डवसेनाक्षयकाल-निर्णयः | Time-estimates for the depletion of the Pāṇḍava forces
Bhīṣma–Droṇa council
कृतवर्मा सहानीकस्त्रिगर्तश्ष महारथ: । दुर्योधनश्व नृपतिर्श्नातृभि: परिवारित:
kṛtavarmā sahānīkas trigartaś ca mahārathaḥ | duryodhanaś ca nṛpatir bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritaḥ ||
毗湿摩波罗衍那说道：克利多跋摩率其军旅，三伽尔多的勇士亦为大车战士；又有被诸弟环卫的国王难敌——这些将领列阵而行，以难敌为前锋，众人随其后。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how strength—army, elite warriors, and family solidarity—can be organized efficiently yet still serve an adharma-driven objective. It invites reflection on the ethical direction of loyalty: kinship and alliance are powerful, but their moral worth depends on the cause they uphold.
Vaiśampāyana lists key Kaurava-aligned leaders—Kṛtavarmā with his troops, the Trigarta great warrior, and King Duryodhana surrounded by his brothers—moving together in an ordered military procession/formation, with Duryodhana placed at the front as the focal leader.