Chapter 1, Verse 5
धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान्। पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः।।
dhṛṣṭaketuś cekitānaḥ kāśirājaś ca vīryavān purujit kuntibhojaś ca śaibyaś ca nara-puṅgavaḥ
Meaning
Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, the valiant King of Kashi, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Shaibya — the foremost among men — are all present here.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
The roll-call of Pandava allies continues, each name representing a kingdom, an alliance, and a warrior of renown. Duryodhana's enumeration of these names shows his thorough military intelligence, yet the very thoroughness becomes a measure of his apprehension. He is not the confident aggressor he wishes to appear — he is a man nervously taking stock of what stands against him.
These verses collectively remind us that no significant endeavour is undertaken alone. Both sides on Kurukshetra drew upon networks of relationships, old loyalties, and forged alliances. The quality and character of those alliances often determined the outcome — not just in war but in every collective human effort.
On a practical level, when we undertake a major challenge in life — a new venture, a difficult reform, a creative project — it is worth honestly assessing who stands with us and who stands against us. But that assessment should serve preparation, not become a reason for paralysis or despair.
💡 Key Takeaway
Know your landscape fully, but use that knowledge to prepare wisely rather than to magnify fear.
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.