Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 6

English Translation

And the chivalrous Yudhamanyu, and the valiant Uttamaujas; son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu) and the sons of Draupadi all (of whom) are, verily, maharathas.

Detailed Commentary

Elucidation (1.4 -- 1.6): 'अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि' – That from which arrows are released is called 'Ishvasa', meaning a bow. Those who possess great bows are all called 'Maheshvasa'. It requires immense strength to string and draw arrows on large bows. An arrow drawn with great force is more lethal. Therefore, all these are very powerful and valorous warriors. They are not ordinary combatants. In battle, they are like Bhima and Arjuna; that is, in strength, they are like Bhima, and in the art of weaponry, they are like Arjuna. 'युयुधानः' – Yuyudhana (Satyaki) had learned the art of weaponry from Arjuna. Therefore, even when Lord Krishna offered His Narayani Sena to Duryodhana, Yuyudhana remained on Arjuna's side and did not join Duryodhana. To incite resentment towards Arjuna in Dronacharya's mind, Duryodhana first names Arjuna's disciple, Yuyudhana. The implication is: 'Behold! You yourself had granted Arjuna the boon that there would be no other archer in the world equal to him.' 'विराटश्च' – Dronacharya had no particular animosity towards Virata, but Duryodhana knew that if he named Drupada after Yuyudhana, Dronacharya's feelings against the Pandavas would intensify. Therefore, he named Virata first. 'द्रुपदश्च महारथः' – Duryodhana mentioned Drupada before Dronacharya to indicate that the very Drupada, whom Dronacharya had previously reminded of their friendship, now stood against him. 'धृष्टकेतुः' – Dhrishtaketu stands on Krishna's side in battle, even though Krishna had slain his father, Shishupala. 'चेकितानः' – Yadava Chekitana is also in the Pandava army, even though the Yadava forces were on our side. 'काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान्' – Kashiraja stands in the Pandava army; therefore, you must be cautious in battle. 'पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च' – Purujit and Kuntibhoja, despite being maternal uncles, stand against us. 'शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः' – Shaibya, Yudhishthira's father-in-law, stands on the side of the Pandavas. 'युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान्' – Yudhamanyu and Uttamauja are appointed to protect Arjuna's chariot. 'सौभद्रः' – Abhimanyu, who learned the art of breaking the Chakravyuha in the womb, is especially noteworthy in battle. 'द्रौपदेयाश्च' – Draupadi's five sons are in the Pandava army, and you must be cautious of them in battle. 'सर्व एव महारथाः' – All these are Maharathis, proficient in the science of arms and warfare. One who can simultaneously command ten thousand archer-warriors is called a Maharathi. Context: Duryodhana described the special qualities of the Pandava army to instill resentment towards the Pandavas in Dronacharya's mind, so that he would fight with full zeal.