In Bhagavad Gita 1.4, Duryodhana begins naming the heroes of the Pandava army: mighty archers equal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna, such as Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा
भीमार्जुनसमा युधि
युयुधानो विराटश्च
द्रुपदश्च महारथः ॥ १-४ ॥
atra śūrā maheṣvāsā
bhīmārjunasamā yudhi
yuyudhāno virāṭaśca
drupadaśca mahārathaḥ
English transliteration atra shooraa maheshvaasaa
bheemaarjunasamaa yudhi
yuyudhaano viraatashcha
drupadashcha mahaarathah ॥ 1.4 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Here are heroes and mighty archers, equal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna: Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada, the great chariot-warrior.
Verses 1.4–1.6 form one list of the Pandava champions.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अत्र atra | here |
| शूराः śūrāḥ | heroes |
| महेष्वासाः maheṣvāsāḥ | mighty archers mahā (great) + iṣvāsāḥ (bowmen) |
| भीमार्जुनसमाः bhīmārjunasamāḥ | equal to Bhīma and Arjuna bhīma (Bhīma) + arjuna (Arjuna) + samāḥ (equal) |
| युधि yudhi | in battle |
| युयुधानः yuyudhānaḥ | Yuyudhāna (Sātyaki) |
| विराटः virāṭaḥ | Virāṭa |
| च ca | and |
| द्रुपदः drupadaḥ | Drupada |
| च ca | and |
| महारथः mahārathaḥ | great chariot-warrior |
Word-wise Chanting
- at–ra śū–rā ma–heṣ–vā–sā 8 syllables at-ra shoo-raa ma-hesh-vaa-saa
- bhī–mār–ju–na–sa–mā yu–dhi | 8 syllables bhee-maar-ju-na-sa-maa yu-dhi
- yu–yu–dhā–no vi–rā–ṭaś–ca 8 syllables yu-yu-dhaa-no vi-raa-tash-cha
- dru–pa–daś–ca ma–hā–ra–thaḥ || 1-4 8 syllables dru-pa-dash-cha ma-haa-ra-thah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 1 Verse 4
Context
Continuing to address Drona, Duryodhana now lists the leading warriors on the Pandava side (1.4–1.6) before naming those on his own (1.7–1.9).
Meaning
Duryodhana measures the enemy by the standard of Bhima and Arjuna, the two Pandavas he fears most. Yuyudhana, also called Satyaki, was a devoted friend of Krishna and a student of Arjuna; Virata was the king who sheltered the Pandavas during their year in hiding; Drupada, father of Draupadi, was Drona’s old rival. Each name carries a history of loyalty and grievance that Duryodhana knows well.
A mahāratha was a warrior able to fight ten thousand archers alone. By listing such men first, Duryodhana reveals that he is counting dangers. The mind that lives by comparison is always taking inventory of threats. The Gita lets us hear that inventory so that the contrast with Krishna’s later calm, which counts nothing and fears nothing, becomes clear.
In Practice
Notice when your mind is making a list of threats or rivals, and pause to ask whether the list is helping you act or only feeding your fear.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga (The Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.