atra—here; śhūrāḥ—powerful warriors; mahā-iṣhu-āsāḥ—great bowmen; bhīma-arjuna-samāḥ—equal to Bheem and Arjun; yudhi—in military prowess; yuyudhānaḥ—Yuyudhan; virāṭaḥ—Virat; cha—and; drupadaḥ—Drupad; cha—also; mahā-rathaḥ—warriors who could single handedly match the strength of ten thousand ordinary warriors;
English translation
Here are heroes, mighty archers, equal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna, Yuyudhana (Satyaki), Virata, and Drupada—all mighty warriors.
Translation by Swami Sivananda
Hindi meaning
।।1.4।।इस सेना में महान् धनुर्धारी शूर योद्धा है , जो युद्ध में भीम और अर्जुन के समान हैं , जैसे -- युयुधान, विराट तथा महारथी राजा द्रुपद।
Hindi rendering by Swami Tejomayananda
English meaning
In it are heroes and great bowmen; the equals in battle of Arjuna, Bheema, Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada—all great soldiers.
Shri Purohit Swami
Here are the heroes and mighty archers, comparable in war to Bhima and Arjuna: Yuyudhana, the king of the Virata country, and Drupada, the mighty warrior.
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
Detailed explanation
Technically, maharatha means a warrior who is proficient in the science of war and who is able to fight alone with ten thousand archers.
Commentary by Swami Sivananda
Hindi commentary
।।1.4।। No commentary.
Swami Chinmayananda
।।1.4 --1.6।। व्याख्या--'अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि'--जिनसे बाण चलाये जाते हैं, फेंके जाते हैं, उनका नाम 'इष्वास' अर्थात् धनुष है। ऐसे बड़े-बड़े इष्वास (धनुष) जिनसे पास हैं, वे सभी 'महेष्वास' हैं। तात्पर्य है कि बड़े धनुषोंपर बाण चढ़ाने एवं प्रत्यञ्चा खींचनेमें बहुत बल लगता है। जोरसे खींचकर छोड़ा गया बाण विशेष मार करता है। ऐसे बड़े-बड़े धनुष पासमें होनेके कारण ये सभी बहुत बलवान् और शूरवीर हैं। ये मामूली योद्धा नहीं हैं। युद्धमें ये भीम और अर्जुनके समान हैं अर्थात् बलमें ये भीमके समान और अस्त्र-शस्त्रकी कलामें ये अर्जुनके समान हैं।
Swami Ramsukhdas
Key teachings
Technically, maharatha means a warrior who is proficient in the science of war and who is able to fight alone with ten thousand archers.
Spiritual significance
In Arjuna Visada Yoga (Arjuna's Dilemma), this verse belongs to the Gita’s teaching on karma yoga. Here the text presents that teaching through these words: Here are heroes, mighty archers, equal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna, Yuyudhana (Satyaki), Virata, and Drupada—all mighty warriors.
Chapter 1, verse 4 is part of Arjuna Visada Yoga. In the English translation used on this page, it says: Here are heroes, mighty archers, equal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna, Yuyudhana (Satyaki), Virata, and Drupada—all mighty warriors.
What is the spiritual context of this verse?
It appears in Arjuna Visada Yoga, a chapter associated with Karma Yoga. Duty on the battlefield.
