In Bhagavad Gita 1.5, Duryodhana continues naming the Pandava allies: Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, the valiant king of Kashi, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Shaibya, the best of men.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः
काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान्
पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च
शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः ॥ १-५ ॥
dhṛṣṭaketuścekitānaḥ
kāśirājaśca vīryavān
purujitkuntibhojaśca
śaibyaśca narapuṅgavaḥ
English transliteration dhrishtaketushchekitaanah
kaashiraajashcha veeryavaan
purujitkuntibhojashcha
shaibyashcha narapungavah ॥ 1.5 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, and the valiant king of Kashi; Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Shaibya, the best among men.
Verses 1.4–1.6 form one list of the Pandava champions.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| धृष्टकेतुः dhṛṣṭaketuḥ | Dhṛṣṭaketu |
| चेकितानः cekitānaḥ | Cekitāna |
| काशिराजः kāśirājaḥ | the king of Kāśī kāśi (Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)) + rājaḥ (king) |
| च ca | and |
| वीर्यवान् vīryavān | valiant |
| पुरुजित् purujit | Purujit |
| कुन्तिभोजः kuntibhojaḥ | Kuntibhoja |
| च ca | and |
| शैब्यः śaibyaḥ | Śaibya |
| च ca | and |
| नरपुङ्गवः narapuṅgavaḥ | best among men nara (men) + puṅgavaḥ (the foremost) |
Word-wise Chanting
- dhṛṣ–ṭa–ke–tuś–ce–ki–tā–naḥ 8 syllables dhrish-ta-ke-tush-che-ki-taa-nah
- kā–śi–rā–jaś–ca vīr–ya–vān | 8 syllables kaa-shi-raa-jash-cha veer-ya-vaan
- pu–ru–jit–kun–ti–bho–jaś–ca 8 syllables pu-ru-jit-kun-ti-bho-jash-cha
- śaib–yaś–ca na–ra–puṅ–ga–vaḥ || 1-5 8 syllables shaib-yash-cha na-ra-pun-ga-vah
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 5
Context
This verse continues Duryodhana’s survey of the Pandava army, begun in 1.4.
Meaning
The names reach across the kingdoms of ancient India. Dhrishtaketu ruled the Chedis; Chekitana was a warrior of the Yadava clan; the king of Kashi ruled the sacred city on the Ganga; Purujit and Kuntibhoja were brothers from the family of Kunti, mother of the Pandavas; Shaibya was a king renowned for strength and virtue. The Pandava cause had drawn noble allies from many directions.
Duryodhana praises them even as he fears them. The verse quietly shows that the Pandavas’ strength lies not only in arms but in the trust of good people. Alliances built on respect and shared purpose endure in a way that alliances built on fear or favour cannot. The battlefield will test both kinds.
In Practice
Reflect on the relationships in your life that rest on mutual respect, and on any that rest only on advantage. Give some care today to the first kind.
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.