Chapter 1, Verse 4
अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि। युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः।।
atra śūrā maheṣvāsā bhīmārjuna-samā yudhi yuyudhāno virāṭaś ca drupadaś ca mahārathaḥ
Meaning
Here in this army are great heroes, mighty archers equal to Bhima and Arjuna in battle — Yuyudhana, Virata, and the great chariot-warrior Drupada.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Duryodhana continues his catalogue of the Pandava generals, naming warriors of exceptional calibre. Each name he recites increases the psychological pressure he is placing on Dronacharya and himself. The comparison to Bhima and Arjuna — the most fearsome Pandava warriors — signals that Duryodhana recognises the formidable opposition aligned against him.
This enumeration of enemies is a double-edged act: Duryodhana may be trying to impress upon his teacher the seriousness of the threat, but it also exposes his own dread. A person who lists every danger in elaborate detail often does so not to inform but to voice inner fear.
For us, this is a reminder that cataloguing obstacles and fears exhaustively can itself become an obstacle. Courage is not the absence of recognising danger; it is choosing to act in alignment with dharma despite danger. The moment we stop counting the enemy's strengths and start concentrating on our own preparation, we shift from anxiety to readiness.
💡 Key Takeaway
Acknowledge challenges honestly, but do not let cataloguing fear become a substitute for courageous action.
Related Verses
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच | धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः | मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥१॥
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | dharma-kṣetre kuru-kṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ | māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva kim akurvata sañjaya ||1||
Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, after assembling in the place of pilgrimage at Kurukshetra, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do, being desirous to fight?
सञ्जय उवाच दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा। आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत्।।
sañjaya uvāca dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṁ vyūḍhaṁ duryodhanas tadā ācāryam upasaṅgamya rājā vacanam abravīt
Sanjaya said: Having seen the army of the Pandavas arrayed in battle formation, King Duryodhana then approached his teacher Drona and spoke these words.
पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम्। व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता।।
paśyaitāṁ pāṇḍu-putrāṇām ācārya mahatīṁ camūm vyūḍhāṁ drupada-putreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā
O teacher, behold this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, so skilfully arrayed by the son of Drupada — your own talented student.