Bhagavad Gita BG 1.17
Chapter 1, Verse 17 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः । धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ॥ १७ ॥
kāśyaś ca parameṣvāsaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaś ca sātyakiś cāparājitaḥ
Meaning
The King of Kashi, the supreme archer; the great warrior Shikhandi; Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and the unconquered Satyaki.
Understanding
More Pandava allies sound their conches. Shikhandi is particularly significant — he was born a woman (Amba reborn) and was destined to be the instrument of Bhishma's death. Bhishma had vowed never to fight a woman, so Arjuna would later use Shikhandi as a shield to finally fell the grandsire. Satyaki (also called Yuyudhana) was Krishna's dear disciple and one of the finest warriors on the Pandava side.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| परमेष्वासः | parameṣvāsaḥ | supreme archer / greatest bowman |
| शिखण्डी | śikhaṇḍī | Shikhandi (born as Amba reborn) |
| महारथः | mahārathaḥ | great chariot warrior |
| अपराजितः | aparājitaḥ | unconquered / never defeated |
| काश्यः | kāśyaḥ | the king of Kashi |
| च | ca | and (conjunction) |
| धृष्टद्युम्नः | dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ | Dhrishtadyumna (commander of Pandava forces) |
| विराटः | virāṭaḥ | Virata (king of Matsya) |
| सात्यकिः | sātyakiḥ | Satyaki (Yuyudhana, Krishna's ally) |