Mahabharata 7.149.33 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 149, Shloka 33
अलंबलवधः (Alaṃbala-vadhaḥ) / The Slaying of Alaṃbala and the Advance toward Karṇa
प्रत्युवाच महातेजा: कालयुक्तमिदं वच: । सव्यसाची अर्जुनके ऐसा कहनेपर महातेजस्वी महाबाहु केशवने उनसे यह समयोचित वचन कहा-- |। अलमेष महाबाहु: कणणयैकोडपि पाण्डव
pratyuvāca mahātejāḥ kālayuktam idaṃ vacaḥ | savyasācī arjunakeśavaḥ … | alam eṣa mahābāhuḥ karṇayā ekodapi pāṇḍavaḥ |
قال سنجيا: «فأجابه ذو البهاء بكلامٍ ملائمٍ للوقت. ولما قال أرجونا، رامِي السهام بكلتا يديه، ما قاله، ردّ كيشافا عظيم الذراعين بنصيحةٍ في محلّها قائلاً: “حسبُك—إن بانداڤاً واحداً لكافٍ لمواجهة كارنا.”»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Timely speech and strategic reassurance are part of righteous action in crisis: a leader steadies a wavering warrior by focusing on what is sufficient and necessary, preventing fear or overcomplication from weakening resolve.
Sañjaya narrates that after Arjuna speaks, Keśava (Kṛṣṇa) answers with words suited to the moment, reassuring him about facing Karṇa—emphasizing that even one capable Pāṇḍava can be enough, thereby strengthening Arjuna’s confidence and readiness.
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