Shloka 53
शल्य उवाच अजय्यमेनं प्रवदन्ति युद्धे महारथा: कर्ण रथप्रवीरम् । एकाकिनं किमु कृष्णाभिगुप्तं विजेतुमेनं क इहोत्सहेत
śalya uvāca | ajayyam enaṃ pravadanti yuddhe mahārathāḥ karṇa rathapravīram | ekākinaṃ kimu kṛṣṇābhiguptaṃ vijetum enaṃ ka ihotsaheta ||
قال شاليا: «يا كارنا، إن عظماء فرسان المركبات يقولون إن هذا البطل، سيدَ مقاتلي العربة، لا يُقهَر في الحرب. فإذا كان يُعَدّ لا يُغلَب حتى وهو وحده، فكيف الآن وهو في حماية كريشنا! ففي مثل هذا المقام، من ذا الذي يجرؤ هنا على قهره؟»
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the perceived invincibility of a righteous and divinely supported warrior: human prowess is formidable, but when joined with divine protection (Kṛṣṇa’s guardianship), it becomes a near-insurmountable force—prompting humility and strategic realism rather than reckless pride.
Śalya, serving as Karṇa’s charioteer, speaks in a discouraging tone, emphasizing that even great warriors call Arjuna unconquerable, and that with Kṛṣṇa protecting him, defeating Arjuna is beyond anyone’s daring—an instance of counsel that also functions as psychological pressure on Karṇa.