Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 4

Chapter 1 – Arjuna Vishada Yoga · Speaker: Sanjaya

Sanskrit verse

अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि ।
युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ॥

Transliteration

atra śūrā maheṣvāsā bhīmārjunasamā yudhi .
yuyudhāno virāṭaśca drupadaśca mahārathaḥ ॥

Meaning

Here in this army are heroes, mighty archers equal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna: Yuyudhana, Virata, and the great chariot-warrior Drupada.

Word meanings

अत्र – here, in this army
शूराः – heroes
महेष्वासाः – great archers
भीमार्जुनसमाः – equal to Bhima and Arjuna
युधि – in battle
युयुधानः – Yuyudhana (Satyaki)
विराटः – King Virata
च – and
द्रुपदः – King Drupada
महारथः – a great chariot-warrior

Anvaya (word order)

अत्र युधि भीमार्जुनसमाः महेष्वासाः शूराः (सन्ति) — युयुधानः विराटः च महारथः द्रुपदः च ।

Explanation

Duryodhana now begins listing the leading warriors on the Pandava side. He calls them 'equal to Bhima and Arjuna', an admission that says much. In his mind Bhima and Arjuna are the very measure of strength and skill; Bhima had been his rival since childhood, and Arjuna's archery always haunted him.

Yuyudhana, also known as Satyaki, was a hero of the Yadava clan, a devoted follower of Krishna and a pupil of Arjuna. Though Krishna's Narayani army went to the Kauravas, Satyaki chose the side of dharma and stood with the Pandavas. King Virata ruled the Matsya kingdom, where the Pandavas spent their final year in disguise; his daughter Uttara married Abhimanyu, Arjuna's son.

Drupada was king of Panchala, father of Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna. He is called a maharatha. In the ancient tradition of war, a maharatha was a warrior expert in both weapons and military science, able to fight ten thousand archers single-handed.

By calling them maheshvasah, 'wielders of great bows', Duryodhana stresses their prowess. His purpose is to alert Drona, but his own fear shows through the list.

Context

In the previous verse Duryodhana pointed to the Pandava army and its commander. From here to verse 6 he names the great warriors of the Pandava side, and in verses 7 and 8 he turns to the leaders of his own army.

Life lesson

Recognising an opponent's strength is wisdom; brooding on it until one is paralysed by fear is weakness. Satyaki's example teaches that true courage means choosing dharma above kinship and convenience.

Key terms

Maharatha: a supreme chariot-warrior able to fight ten thousand archers alone
Yuyudhana (Satyaki): Yadava hero, devotee of Krishna and pupil of Arjuna
Virata: king of Matsya, in whose court the Pandavas lived in disguise
Maheshvasa: a great archer, one who wields a mighty bow