Shloka 23
Nara-Nārāyaṇa Precedent and Bhīṣma’s Counsel on Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna; Karṇa’s Reply
दुष्टोंका दमन करके साधु पुरुषों एवं धर्मका संरक्षण ही इनका कर्तव्य है, ये सारी बातें वेदोंके ज्ञाता नारदजीने समस्त वृष्णिवंशियोंके सम्मुख कही थीं ।।
śaṅkhacakragadāhastaṃ yadā drakṣyasi keśavam | paryādadhānaṃ cāstrāṇi bhīmadhanvānam arjunam, vatsa duryodhana! tadā me vacanaṃ smariṣyasi ||
يا دوريوذانا العزيز، حين تبصر كيشافا (كريشنا) وفي يده الصدفة والقرص والمِقْمَعَة، وتبصر أرجونا—حامل القوس المهيب—لا يفتأ يتناول شتى الأسلحة ويطلقها بلا انقطاع، عندئذٍ ستتذكر كلماتي. إن هذا التحذير يدل على أن صون الدارما وكبح الأشرار سيقوم به من اصطفّ مع الاستقامة، وأن مشهد اتحاد كريشنا وأرجونا سيجعل عاقبة الأدهارما جلية لا لبس فيها.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Adharma brings inevitable consequences: when divine support and righteous prowess unite (Kṛṣṇa with his emblems and Arjuna with unstoppable weapon-skill), the wrongdoer is forced to recall ignored counsel. The verse underscores that safeguarding dharma and curbing the wicked are central duties of the righteous.
A prophetic warning is recalled: Duryodhana is told that the moment he sees Kṛṣṇa armed with conch, discus, and mace, alongside Arjuna constantly deploying weapons, he will remember the earlier admonition spoken before the Vṛṣṇis—signaling that the war’s outcome is being sealed by their alliance.