Bhagavad Gita 1.17
Spoken by Sanjaya · Verse 17 of 47
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः। धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः॥
kāśyaś ca parameṣvāsaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ / dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaś ca sātyakiś cāparājitaḥ
More allied voices join — the sound of dharma's coalition builds.
Word by word (4)
- dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ virāṭaś ca
- — Dhrishtadyumna and Virata
- sātyakiś cāparājitaḥ
- — and Satyaki, the unconquered · Satyaki is Arjuna's devoted disciple — one of the few who survives the battle and remains loyal to the end.
- drupado draupadeyāś ca
- — Drupada and the sons of Draupadi
- sarvaśaḥ pṛthivī-pate
- — from all sides, O king · 'Pṛthivī-pate' — O lord of the earth, addressing Dhritarashtra. The blind king is being told what he cannot see.
Also sounding their conches: the King of Kashi the great bowman, Shikhandi the mighty charioteer, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and the never-defeated Satyaki.
A modern analogy
As different allies add their voices to a coalition, the collective signal grows. Shikhandi's inclusion is notable — Shikhandi was born female and lived as male, and was destined to be the one before whom Bhishma would lay down his weapons. Even in an army, the most unexpected person may hold the decisive role.
Take with you
- Shikhandi — born in unusual circumstances, often underestimated — would prove decisive in Bhishma's fall. Never discount the role of the unexpected.
- The 'unconquered' Satyaki (aparājita) carries an epithet that declares a track record of success — reputations built in the past are resources in the present.
- The widening circle of voices in a righteous cause creates its own momentum.
Public-domain translations (2) compare all →
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
How do you raise a weapon against the teacher who made you?
A blind king asks what happened on the battlefield — and the Gita begins.
Whenever dharma declines and adharma rises — I project Myself forth. The divine responds to every crisis.
This most secret śāstra spoken — knowing it, one becomes truly wise and kṛta-kṛtya: all duties fulfilled.
One with no ego-doer-sense, whose buddhi is untainted — even while killing all these beings, kills not, is not bound.
By bhakti one truly knows what and who I am; then knowing Me truly, one enters into Me immediately.
Verse 17 of 47 · back to Chapter 1