Here (in the Pandava army) are great heroes, possessors of mighty bows, and who are equal to Bhima and Arjuna in battle. Among them are Yuyudhana (Satyaki), King Virata, and the great chariot-warrior Drupada. Dhrishtaketu and Chekitana, and the valiant king of Kashi are also there. Purujit and Kuntibhoja—these two brothers—and Shaibya, the best among men, are also present. The powerful Yudhamanyu and the mighty Uttamauja are also there. Subhadra's son Abhimanyu and the five sons of Draupadi are also present. All of these are great chariot-warriors.
Commentary: "Here are heroes, mighty archers, equal to Bhima and Arjuna in battle" – That by which arrows are shot and hurled is called an 'Ishvasa', meaning a bow. Those who possess such large and great Ishvasas (bows) are all 'Maheshvasas' (mighty archers). The implication is that stringing a large bow and drawing its bowstring requires great strength. An arrow released with a powerful draw causes significant damage. Because they possess such large bows, all of these warriors are very powerful and heroic. They are not ordinary combatants. In battle, they are equal to Bhima and Arjuna, meaning in strength they are like Bhima, and in the skill of weaponry they are like Arjuna.
'Yuyudhana' – Yuyudhana (Satyaki) learned the science of weapons from Arjuna. Therefore, even when Lord Shri Krishna gave the Narayani army to Duryodhana, he remained grateful and stayed on Arjuna's side, not joining Duryodhana's. To plant a feeling of animosity towards Arjuna in Dronacharya's mind, Duryodhana first names Arjuna's disciple, Yuyudhana, among the great warriors. The intent is: "Just see this Arjuna! He learned to wield weapons from you, and you even gave him the boon that you would endeavor so that no archer equal to him would exist in the world. You have shown such affection for your disciple Arjuna, yet he, being ungrateful, stands to fight against you, while Arjuna's own disciple stands on his side."
[Yuyudhana did not die in the Mahabharata war but was killed in the internecine war among the Yadavas.]
'And Virata' – "That King Virata, because of whom our hero Susharma was insulted, you had to be enchanted by the Sammohana-astra, and we too had to flee the battle abandoning his cows—that King Virata stands against you in opposition."
King Virata had no personal enmity or malice towards Dronacharya; however, Duryodhana thinks that if he names Drupada after Yuyudhana, Dronacharya might feel that Duryodhana is inciting him against the Pandavas and specifically provoking him for battle, and is planting feelings of enmity towards the Pandavas in his mind. Therefore, Duryodhana names Virata before Drupada, so that Dronacharya does not understand his cunning and fights with particular zeal.
[King Virata, along with his three sons Uttar, Shveta, and Shankha, was killed in the Mahabharata war.]
'And Drupada, the great chariot-warrior' – "You reminded Drupada of your former friendship, but he insulted you in the assembly by saying, 'I am a king and you are a mendicant; how can there be friendship between us?' And, due to enmity, he even begot a son to kill you. That same great chariot-warrior Drupada stands in opposition to fight you."
[King Drupada was killed by Dronacharya's hand in the war.]
'Dhrishtaketu' – "How foolish is this Dhrishtaketu, that he stands to fight on the side of that very Krishna who killed his father Shishupala with the discus in a full assembly!"
[Dhrishtaketu was killed by Dronacharya's hand.]
'Chekitana' – "The entire Yadava army is ready to fight on our side, yet this Yadava Chekitana stands in the Pandava army."
Chekitana was killed by Duryodhana's hand!
'And the valiant king of Kashi' – "This king of Kashi is a very great hero and a mighty chariot-warrior. He too stands in the Pandava army. Therefore, you must fight carefully; for he is very powerful."
[The king of Kashi was killed in the Mahabharata war.]
'Purujit and Kuntibhoja' – "Although Purujit and Kuntibhoja—these two, being Kunti's brothers, are our and the Pandavas' maternal uncles, nevertheless, due to partiality in their minds, they stand to fight against us."
[Both Purujit and Kuntibhoja were killed by Dronacharya's hand in the war.]
'And Shaibya, the bull among men' – "This Shaibya is Yudhishthira's father-in-law. He is the best among men and very powerful. By family relation, he too is our relative. But he stands on the Pandavas' side."
'And the powerful Yudhamanyu and the mighty Uttamauja' – "These very powerful and heroic warriors from Panchala, Yudhamanyu and Uttamauja, have been appointed to protect the wheels of my enemy Arjuna's chariot. You must keep an eye on them too."
[Both of them were killed by Ashvatthama while sleeping at night.]
'Saubhadra' – "This is Abhimanyu, the son of Krishna's sister Subhadra. He is a great hero. He learned the art of breaking the Chakra-vyuha while still in the womb. Therefore, at the time of forming the Chakra-vyuha, you must be mindful of him."
[Abhimanyu was killed in the war when Duhshasana's son unjustly struck him on the head with a mace.]
'And the sons of Draupadi' – "From Draupadi's womb, by Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva respectively, were born Prativindhya, Sutasoma, Shrutakarma, Shataanika, and Shrutasena. You must take note of these five. Draupadi ridiculed me in the full assembly and burned my heart. By killing these five sons of hers in battle, you must avenge that."
[These five were killed by Ashvatthama while sleeping at night.]
'All are indeed great chariot-warriors' – "All of these are great chariot-warriors. A heroic person who is proficient in both scripture and the science of weapons, and who can single-handedly maneuver against ten thousand archers in battle, is called a 'Maharathi'. Such are the many great chariot-warriors standing in the Pandava army."
Connection: To plant animosity towards the Pandavas in Dronacharya's mind and to inspire him for battle, Duryodhana described the special qualities of the Pandava army. The thought arose in Duryodhana's mind that Dronacharya is already partial to the Pandavas; therefore, upon hearing the greatness of the Pandava army, he might say to me, "When the Pandava army possesses such special qualities, why don't you make peace with them?" As soon as this thought arose, Duryodhana, in the next three verses, describes the special qualities of his own army.
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