Verse 1.17
Speaker: Sanjaya
Sanskrit
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः | धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ||१७||
Transliteration (IAST)
kāśyaśca parameṣvāsaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ | dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaśca sātyakiścāparājitaḥ ||17||
Word-by-Word Meanings
काश्यः-the king of Kashi
परमेष्वासः-supreme archer
शिखण्डी-Shikhandi
महारथः-great chariot warrior
धृष्टद्युम्नः-Dhrishtadyumna
अपराजितः-unconquered
Translation
The king of Kashi, the supreme archer, Shikhandi the great warrior, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and the unconquered Satyaki.
Commentary
Shikhandi's mention is particularly significant - he is destined to be the instrument of Bhishma's fall, as Bhishma will not fight against him. This subtle foreshadowing adds dramatic irony to the battlefield description.
Themes
dharmaduty