Shloka 9
अर्जुनकर्णसंनिपातवर्णनम् / The Convergence of Arjuna and Karṇa
घोरं युद्धमदीनेन मया हाप्याच्युतार्जुनौ । कृत॑ तेनान्तकेनेव प्रजा: सर्वा जिघांसता
ghoraṁ yuddham adīnena mayā hy ācchyutārjunau | kṛtaṁ tenāntakeneva prajāḥ sarvā jighāṁsatā ||
Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „O Kṛṣṇa und Arjuna! Karṇa — wie der Tod selbst, auf die Vernichtung aller Wesen bedacht — focht heute mit mir eine schreckliche Schlacht. Und dennoch zeigte ich vor ihm weder Mutlosigkeit noch Schwäche.“
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when confronted by an opponent who seems as unstoppable as Death, a righteous warrior-leader must maintain steadiness and refuse inner collapse; courage and composure are presented as part of kṣatriya-dharma and moral resolve.
Yudhiṣṭhira reports to Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna that Karṇa fought him fiercely that day, with a destructive intent likened to Antaka (Death). Yudhiṣṭhira emphasizes that despite the terror of the encounter, he did not show dejection.