अर्जुनस्य दिग्विजयारम्भः — Arjuna Initiates the Northern Campaign and Secures Bhagadattta’s Tribute
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच त्रयाणां केन ते राजन् योद्धुमुत्सहते मन: । अस्मदन्यतमेनेह सज्जीभवतु को युधि,श्रीकृष्णने पूछा--राजन्! हम तीनोंमेंसे किस एक व्यक्तिके साथ युद्ध करनेके लिये तुम्हारे मनमें उत्साह हो रहा है? हममेंसे कौन तुम्हारे साथ युद्धके लिये तैयार हो?
śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca | trayāṇāṃ kena te rājan yoddhum utsahate manaḥ | asmad-anyatameneha sajjībhavatu ko yudhi ||
Śrī Kṛṣṇa sprach: „O König, gegen welchen von uns dreien fühlt dein Herz Kampfeslust? Derjenige von uns, den du hier erwählst, soll sich zum Kampf gegen dich rüsten.“
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
The verse frames combat as a deliberate moral choice: the king must consciously select an opponent and accept the consequences of that decision, reflecting the kṣatriya ideal of accountable courage rather than impulsive violence.
Kṛṣṇa addresses a king and asks which one among three persons the king wishes to fight, inviting the chosen party to prepare for battle—presenting a formal challenge and clarifying intent before conflict.