Shloka 126
धर्यवीर्यर्यश:शौर्यर्विक्रमेणीौजसापि वा । तदनन्तर राजा कार्तवीर्य अर्जुन सूर्य और अग्निके समान तेजस्वी रथपर बैठकर (सम्पूर्ण पृथ्वीपर विजय पानेके पश्चात्) बलके अभिमानसे मोहित हो कहने लगा--'बैर्य
dhairya-vīrya-yaśaḥ-śaurya-parākrameṇa ojasāpi vā | tad-anantaraṁ rājā kārtavīrya-arjunaḥ sūrya-agnī-sama-tejasvī ratha-pariṣad-āsīnaḥ (samasta-pṛthivī-vijayān-antaraṁ) bala-abhimāna-mohitaḥ uvāca— “dhairye vīrye yaśasi śaurye parākrame ca ojasi ca mama samaḥ kaḥ?”
Bhishma said: Thereafter King Kārtavīrya Arjuna—radiant like the sun and fire—sat upon his chariot and, having conquered the whole earth, became deluded by pride in his own strength. He proclaimed, “In steadfastness, power, fame, heroism, valor, and vital energy—who is equal to me?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse cautions that success and power can produce abhimāna (self-conceit). When a ruler measures himself only by strength, fame, and conquest, he becomes mohitātmā—ethically clouded—setting the stage for adharma and eventual reversal.
Bhīṣma narrates that after conquering the earth, King Kārtavīrya Arjuna, shining like sun and fire, sits on his chariot and boasts that no one equals him in steadfastness, prowess, fame, heroism, valor, and vigor.