The great symphony of the Pandava war cries reaches its crescendo in the eighteenth verse of the Bhagavad Gita. This verse, known as the Drupado Draupadeyash Cha verse, completes the list of the primary heroes by highlighting the leaders who bind the generations of the family together. The Drupado Draupadeyash Cha verse is a final, powerful statement of unity before the battle begins.
Sanskrit Verse
द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते ।
सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक् ॥ १८ ॥Transliteration
drupado draupadeyāśca sarvaśaḥ pṛthivīpate |
saubhadraśca mahābāhuḥ śaṅkhāndadhmuḥ pṛthakpṛthak || 18 ||Word for Word Translation
drupadaḥ – Drupada; draupadeyāḥ – the sons of Draupadi; ca – and; sarvaśaḥ – all; pṛthivīpate – O King; saubhadraḥ – the son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu); ca – also; mahābāhuḥ – the mighty-armed; śaṅkhān – conch shells; dadhmuḥ – blew; pṛthak-pṛthak – each separately.
English Translation
O King, Drupada, the sons of Draupadi, and the mighty-armed son of Subhadra, all blew their respective conch shells.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
The Drupado Draupadeyash Cha verse is addressed by Sanjaya to King Dhritarashtra (“O Prithivipate,” or “O King”). This reminds the reader that this entire scene is being narrated to the blind king. The verse names three final, crucial groups:
- Drupada: The King of Panchala, father of Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna. His participation is driven by deep family ties and a long-standing rivalry with Drona. As the Pandavas’ father-in-law, his commitment is absolute.
- The Draupadeyas: The five sons of Draupadi. Their presence symbolizes the future of the Pandava dynasty. They are fighting alongside their fathers and grandfather, representing the third generation of the family’s commitment to Dharma. You can read more about these young heroes, the Upapandavas.
- Saubhadra, the mighty-armed (Abhimanyu): The son of Subhadra and Arjuna is mentioned again, this time with the title “Mahabahuh” (mighty-armed), emphasizing his incredible strength and prowess. Abhimanyu’s repeated mention underscores his importance as a warrior considered equal to the greatest heroes on the field.
The phrase “prithak-prithak” (each separately) is significant. It reinforces the idea that this was not a chaotic noise but an organized, sequential sounding of conches. Each hero made their own distinct declaration, yet they were perfectly unified. The Drupado Draupadeyash Cha verse completes this picture of perfect, harmonious strength.
Conclusion
The Drupado Draupadeyash Cha verse offers a beautiful lesson on the strength derived from family and legacy. The Pandava army is not just a collection of soldiers; it is a multi-generational family standing together. Grandfathers, fathers-in-law, sons, and grandsons are all united in a single purpose. This bond creates a depth of loyalty and motivation that a mercenary army could never match.
This verse reminds us that our greatest strength often comes from our roots and our connections to those who came before and those who will come after us. The Drupado Draupadeyash Cha verse shows that when a cause is embraced by multiple generations, it becomes a powerful, living legacy. The sound of their conches is the sound of a family’s unbreakable resolve.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 – Verse 19 – Sa Ghosho Dhartarashtranam
