Inner steadiness matters more than external comparison.
Sanjaya narrates to King Dhritarashtra
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान्।सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः।।
yudhāmanyuś ca vikrānta uttamaujāś ca vīryavān saubhadro draupadeyāś ca sarva eva mahārathāḥ
Use this verse when you feel intimidated by capable people.
Meaning
Yudhamanyu the bold and Uttamauja the valiant are here, and so are the son of Subhadra and the sons of Draupadi, every one of them a great chariot warrior.
Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).
In plain words
Duryodhana keeps noticing strength outside himself. The more the mind focuses only on external power, the less it remembers inner steadiness.
Word-by-word meaning
Tap a word to see its meaning.
Explanation
This verse completes Duryodhana’s listing of the Pandava-side warriors. The spiritual insight is simple: when the mind is unsettled, it keeps collecting evidence for its fear. Duryodhana sees many great warriors, but he does not yet see his own inner disorder.
Modern professionals do the same when they obsess over market competition, colleagues’ achievements or family expectations. The Gita teaches that the first strength to cultivate is not external dominance but internal balance.
Read the traditional 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.
In daily life
When you see strong people around you, use their strength as inspiration, not intimidation.
A young employee may feel small in a room of experienced leaders, but humility plus preparation can become strength.
Try this today
List three strengths you already bring to your current challenge.
I respect others' strength and remember my own.Reflect
Do I become smaller when I see others shine?
Private — only you can see this
Quick check
What does ‘महारथाः’ mean in this verse?
The Gita on war, in other chapters
- Verse 11.26 · ArjunaEven those we love most are held within the Divine's vast unfolding, far beyond our hands to save or destroy.
- Verse 2.1 · SanjayaWhen we are most overwhelmed by emotion is precisely when we most need the clear wisdom of a true guide.
- Verse 3.4Walking away from your duties does not free you — freedom is found by acting without attachment, not by avoiding action.
- Verse 13.22What you cling to shapes where you go — attachment to nature's qualities keeps the wheel of rebirth turning.
Swipe left for 1.7 · Know your strengths, but do not use them to hide insecurity.
Questions about Bhagavad Gita 1.6
Who says Bhagavad Gita 1.6, and to whom?
Sanjaya narrates to King Dhritarashtra in verse 1.6, in Chapter 1, Arjuna's Dilemma (Arjuna Vishada Yoga).
What does Bhagavad Gita 1.6 mean?
Yudhamanyu the bold and Uttamauja the valiant are here, and so are the son of Subhadra and the sons of Draupadi, every one of them a great chariot warrior. (Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).)
What is the lesson of Bhagavad Gita 1.6 for daily life?
When you see strong people around you, use their strength as inspiration, not intimidation. A young employee may feel small in a room of experienced leaders, but humility plus preparation can become strength.
What do the Sanskrit words in Bhagavad Gita 1.6 mean?
युधामन्युः — Yudhamanyu; विक्रान्तः — the mighty / courageous; उत्तमौजाः — Uttamaujas; वीर्यवान् — full of energy; सौभद्रः — Abhimanyu, son of Subhadra.
Where does verse 1.6 come in the Bhagavad Gita?
It is verse 6 of 47 in Chapter 1, Arjuna's Dilemma. The next verse is 1.7.