अयं स रथ आयाति श्वेताश्वः कृष्णसारथि: । निषघ्नन्नमित्रान् समरे यं कर्ण परिपृच्छसि
ayaṁ sa ratha āyāti śvetāśvaḥ kṛṣṇasārathiḥ | niṣaghnann amitrān samare yaṁ karṇa paripṛcchasi ||
„O Karna! Jener Wagen kommt heran — der von weißen Pferden gezogene, den Krishna lenkt. Es ist derselbe Wagen, nach dem du fragst: Er zieht durch das Schlachtfeld, streckt Feinde im Getümmel nieder und kommt hierher.“
अजुन उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical ideal of guided action in conflict: Arjuna’s chariot advances under Krishna’s charioteership, suggesting that martial power is most rightly exercised when directed by discerning counsel and aligned with dharma, even amid the violence of war.
Arjuna identifies for Karna the approaching chariot with white horses driven by Krishna—Arjuna’s own war-chariot—describing it as moving through the battlefield while striking down enemies, directly answering Karna’s inquiry about that formidable presence.