drupado draupadeyāśhcha sarvaśhaḥ pṛithivī-pate
saubhadraśhcha mahā-bāhuḥ śhaṅkhāndadhmuḥ pṛithak pṛithak
drupadaḥ — Drupad;
draupadeyāḥ — the five sons of Draupadi;
cha — and;
sarvaśhaḥ — all;
pṛithivī-pate — Ruler of the earth;
saubhadraḥ — Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadra;
cha — also;
mahā-bāhuḥ — the mighty-armed;
śhaṅkhān — conch shells;
dadhmuḥ — blew;
pṛithak pṛithak — individually
In this verse, Sanjaya, who is reporting the events of the battlefield, describes several important warriors blowing their conch shells. This action is a traditional signal that a war is about to begin and shows their readiness to fight.
First, we have Drupada, who is the father of Draupadi, one of the key characters in the story. Drupada is not just a father figure; he is also a powerful ally for the Pandavas. His involvement in the battle highlights the strong connection between the Pandavas and their supporters. They are not fighting just for a piece of land or a throne; they are fighting to defend their family's honor and what they believe is right.
Then we see the sons of Draupadi, known as the Upapandavas. They represent the next generation stepping into their roles as warriors. Their presence is important because it shows that this fight is not only about the older warriors; it involves the younger ones too. This makes the situation more serious because the outcomes of this battle will affect not just individual families but also entire generations.
Lastly, we have Abhimanyu, who is the son of Subhadra and Arjuna. He is depicted as 'mighty-armed,' which means he is strong and brave, even though he is quite young. Abhimanyu symbolizes the energy and hope that the Pandavas bring to the fight. However, there is also a sense of tragedy with his character. Although he is seen as a promising young warrior, the war will ultimately lead to his sacrifice, showing that war spares no one, not even the young and brave.
This verse is significant because it illustrates how the war impacts everyone, from experienced leaders like Drupada to young warriors like Abhimanyu. It emphasizes that all parts of society are involved in this battle, and it demonstrates the wide-ranging effects of King Dhrtarastra's decisions. He chose to support his sons, who are fighting unjustly, which has led to this terrible conflict. It shows that decisions made by leaders can have dire consequences for their people and families.