Shloka 7
अर्जुन-कर्ण-सङ्ग्रामः
Arjuna–Karna Engagement in the Cattle-Raid Aftermath
एक: किरातरूपेण स्थितं रुद्रमयोधयत् । अस्मिन्नेव वने पार्थो हृतां कृष्णामवाजयत्
ekaḥ kirātarūpeṇa sthitaṁ rudram ayodhayat | asminn eva vane pārtho hṛtāṁ kṛṣṇām avājayat |
Kṛpa sprach: „Allein kämpfte Arjuna gegen Rudra (Śiva), der ihm in der Gestalt eines Kirāta, eines Bergjägers, erschien. Und in eben diesem Wald besiegte Pārtha, als Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) entführt worden war, den Entführer und gewann sie zurück.“
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores steadfast dharma: true heroism is not merely martial skill but the resolve to protect righteousness and honor—whether facing a divine test (Śiva as Kirāta) or rescuing the wronged (Draupadī) despite being alone.
Kṛpa praises Arjuna by recalling two feats: (1) Arjuna’s solitary combat with Śiva who appeared as a Kirāta, and (2) in the same forest, Arjuna’s victory in recovering Draupadī after her abduction—presented as evidence of Arjuna’s exceptional prowess and reliability.