काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः ।
धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ॥
धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे राजन् श्रेष्ठ धनुषवाले काशिराज और महारथी शिखण्डी तथा धृष्टद्युम्न एवं राजा विराट और अजेय सात्यकि, राजा द्रुपद और द्रौपदी के पाँचों पुत्र तथा लम्बीलम्बी भुजाओंवाले सुभद्रापुत्र अभिमन्यु इन सभी ने सब ओर से अलगअलग अपनेअपने शंख बजाये ॥
English
The great archer from Kashi, Shikhandi the great warrior, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and invincible Satyaki.
What this verse means
This is a battlefield roll call. More warriors on the Pandava side blow their conches before the war begins.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, the Pandava allies answer the Kaurava conches with their own. Sanjaya lists more warriors as each one blows a conch, sharpening the moment before battle into a final, audible commitment.
Why this verse still matters
A room goes quiet before the announcement. One by one, the people who will stand with you are named, and the moment stops being theoretical.
The takeaway
The scene builds tension: the war is no longer abstract; every name makes the confrontation real.
Word-by-word translation
काशीः (the king of Kashi) / च (and) / परमेष्वासः (supreme archer) / शिखण्डी (Shikhandi) / च (and) / महारथः (great warrior) / धृष्टद्युम्नः (Dhrishtadyumna) / विराटः (Virata) / च (and) / सात्यकिः (Satyaki) / च (and) / अपराजितः (invincible)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga — The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair, which contains 47 verses.
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), sanjaya (16 verses)