The King of Madra moved forward with his retinue when Dharmaraja gently cautioned him never to neglect his sacred prayers even amidst the press of war. The king, instead of replying in words, embraced him with deep affection, thereby assuring him that this act sprang not merely from the obligation of office but from sincere personal devotion. Having thus expressed his resolve, he hastened toward Hastina.
At that very time Satyaki, the terror of hostile hosts, arrived with the fourfold army of one Akshouhini, consisting of twenty-one thousand eight hundred chariots, an equal number of elephants, sixty-five thousand six hundred and ten horses, and one lakh nine-thousand-three-hundred-and-fifty-foot soldiers. Their advance made the earth tremble and filled all quarters with resounding cries of victory.
The King of Chedi, Drustakethu, and Sahadeva, the son of Jarasandha, each arrived with one Akshouhini. Drupada, accompanied by his sons, kinsmen, and allies, marched forth with another Akshouhini. The blare of conches, the thunder of hooves, and the spirited neighing of horses charged the air with renewed ardour and martial resolve.
Virata arrived fully equipped to aid the Pandavas, while the King of Pandya, together with his allies, contributed one Akshouhini. The meeting place of these armies resembled the confluence of roaring oceans, echoing with the clang of weapons and the rumble of engines of war. Altogether, seven Akshouhini stood in support of the Pandavas, now collectively known as the army of Dharmaraja, poised and eager to leap into battle.
On the other side, the Kauravas gathered tribal warriors and forest dwellers, ruthless in combat and fierce as wild beasts, forming one Akshouhini as allies of Bhagadatta. These warriors reached Duryodhana’s seat and were placed under his command. The mighty and valiant king Bhurisrava joined them, followed by Salya, together forming one Akshouhini.
The Yavana king of Kambhoja arrived with another Akshouhini, while the king of Sindhu and Souveera added yet one more. The king of Mahismati, Neela, the Yadava warrior Kruthavarma, and the brothers of Avanthi, Vinda and Anuvinda, joined these four kingdoms on the Kaurava side with an army of one Akshouhini.
With weapons and engines of war filling every quarter around Hastina, it appeared as though the earth itself were endlessly giving birth to soldiers and arms. Duryodhana arranged comfortable stations and encampments for all the forces loyal to the Kuru throne. These were spread across Kurujangala, the Rouhitaka forest, the Maru lands, Ahichhatra, the banks of the Ganga, Varanavatha, and Vatasthana. Abundant supplies of food, water, and provisions for men, horses, and elephants were duly provided, and formal introductions were exchanged as custom required. Thus, the camps remained busy and cheerful, confident in the vast strength united for their cause.
During this season, the purohit sent as an emissary by Drupada reached Hastina. He paid homage to Dhritarashtra and visited Krupa, Drona, and Bheeshma in their respective abodes, pleasing them with his refined speech and learned bearing. He also met Duryodhana and, with skilful words, created an atmosphere of conciliation before Dhritarashtra.
One day, standing in the royal assembly filled with Kaurava elders and princes, the envoy addressed the gathered leaders, arousing keen curiosity. He spoke openly that Dhritarashtra and Panduraja were brothers, and their sons, as heirs, possessed equal rights over the kingdom’s resources. All knew what had occurred: how the Pandavas had been driven into peril of life and death and survived only by divine grace; how their wealth was seized by deceit; how Draupadi, the jewel among women, was humiliated beyond all measure; and how the Pandavas were forced into exile and concealment under grievous conditions.
Yet, he declared, by their piety and merit, they endured all these trials. Meanwhile this aged monarch, though aware of the entire course of events, had consented to crafty designs, leaving the world to judge such conduct. The envoy affirmed that the present resolve of the Pandavas to seek alliance was both timely and just.
He urged the assembly to examine carefully the conduct of the Kauravas and the restraint of the Pandavas, and to impress upon the venerable king the need for a righteous decision. The Pandavas, he said, sought no enmity but only the protection and welfare of the people. Their desire for peace must not be mistaken for weakness, for it was their steadfast adherence to righteousness that made them fulfil exile and concealment.
He further reminded the assembly that though only seven Akshouhini stood with the Pandavas and eleven with the Kauravas, numbers alone did not measure true strength. The might of Bhima and the daring of Satyaki equalled a thousand Akshouhini. The warcraft and divine power of Arjuna would permit no force to stand before him; to challenge him would be like striking a mountain with a fragile rod, for the devastating power of his astras would unleash destruction beyond resistance.
This truth, he said, was known even to Lord Iswara from their encounter in the forest. Above all stood Sri Krishna beside the Pandavas—the source of strategy, conqueror of foes, protector of refugees, master of warfare, knower of royal conduct, and well-wisher of all worlds. With such power supporting them, what could remain unattainable?
Therefore, he urged, without wasting the appointed time, summon the Pandavas with honour, grant them their rightful share, and establish an alliance.
Then the grandsire Bheeshma spoke aloud that it was indeed fortunate that the great Pandavas lived unharmed among friends and kinsmen, with peaceful minds, abandoning enmity and awaiting cordial relations under the guidance and blessings of Sri Krishna.
Thus, the envoy of Drupada, through his bold, precise, and comprehensive discourse, produced a deep effect. He courageously proclaimed the strength of the Pandavas and the grievous wrongs suffered by them, yet remained diplomatic, avoiding names and direct accusations. By presenting the gravity of the moment without diminishing the message entrusted to him, his intellect, choice of words, timing, and presentation stood as a consummate model of diplomacy and governance, whose unfolding remains an enduring lesson for every age, regardless of the outcome that followed.
