Chapter 1, Verse 6
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान्। सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः।।
yudhāmanyuś ca vikrānta uttamaujāś ca vīryavān saubhadro draupadeyāś ca sarva eva mahārathāḥ
Meaning
The mighty Yudhamanyu, the valiant Uttamaujas, the son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu), and the sons of Draupadi — all are great chariot-warriors without exception.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Duryodhana concludes his survey of the Pandava ranks with Abhimanyu, Arjuna's young son by Subhadra, and the five sons of Draupadi. This closing mention is poignant with tragic irony, for Abhimanyu will die in battle the very next day under circumstances that violate all codes of fair warfare — and it will be Duryodhana's allies who orchestrate that death.
The phrase 'all are great chariot-warriors without exception' underscores the quality of the opposition. Duryodhana is, perhaps unconsciously, building a case that even if the Kauravas lose, it will be against overwhelmingly worthy foes. This is the ego's self-protective mechanism: if defeat comes, let it be attributed to the greatness of the enemy rather than the unworthiness of one's own cause.
For the modern reader, this teaches awareness of how we frame adversity. When we exaggerate the difficulty of what opposes us, we may be unconsciously seeking to excuse ourselves from full commitment. True resolve comes when we acknowledge the challenge clearly and choose to act with full effort regardless.
💡 Key Takeaway
Do not inflate the difficulty of obstacles as a pre-emptive excuse for incomplete effort.
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.