Shloka 64
तमीदृशं वीर्यगुणोपपन्नं कृष्णद्वितीयं परमं नृपाणाम् । तमाह्नयन् साहसमुतन्तमं वै जाने स्वयं सर्वलोकस्य शल्य
tam īdṛśaṃ vīrya-guṇopapannaṃ kṛṣṇa-dvitīyaṃ paramaṃ nṛpāṇām | tam āhvayan sāhasam uttamaṃ vai jāne svayaṃ sarva-lokasya śalya śalya ||
Karna sprach: „O Śalya! Einen solchen Mann zum Kampf herauszufordern—begabt mit Heldenkraft und Tugenden, mit Krishna als seinem Zweiten und der Erste unter den Königen—ist wahrlich der höchste Akt der Kühnheit. Ich selbst weiß, dass dies in den Augen der ganzen Welt eine außerordentliche Vermessenheit ist.“
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid hostility, true kshatriya honor includes clear-eyed recognition of an opponent’s excellence. Karna frames the act of challenging Arjuna—supported by Krishna—as extraordinary daring, highlighting the ethical weight of acknowledging merit and the gravity of war.
Karna addresses Shalya and remarks that to call Arjuna to battle is a supreme act of audacity, because Arjuna is exceptionally valorous and has Krishna as his close support. The line underscores Arjuna’s stature and the peril Karna knowingly embraces.