Shloka 22
Adhyāya 113: Karṇa–Bhīma Śaravarṣa and the Battlefield Aftermath (कर्णभीमशरवर्षः)
तस्यापि च महाबाहो नित्यं पश्यामि संयुगे | नान्यं हि प्रतियोद्धारं रौक्मिणेयादृते प्रभो,“महाबाहो! प्रभो! मैं प्रतिदिन युद्धस्थलमें रुक्मिणी-नन्दन प्रद्युम्मके सिवा दूसरे किसी वीरको ऐसा नहीं देखता जो द्रोणाचार्यके सामने खड़ा होकर उनसे युद्ध कर सके
tasyāpi ca mahābāho nityaṃ paśyāmi saṃyuge | nānyaṃ hi pratiyoddhāraṃ raukmiṇeyād ṛte prabho ||
Sañjaya said: “O mighty-armed one, in the thick of battle I repeatedly observe this: apart from Rukmiṇī’s son, Pradyumna, I see no other warrior who can truly stand before Droṇācārya as a counter-combatant.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights discernment in warfare: true opposition to overwhelming power requires exceptional capability. Ethically, it underscores responsible appraisal of strength—recognizing when only a suitably matched champion should confront a formidable teacher-warrior like Droṇa, rather than sending unfit fighters into certain defeat.
Sañjaya reports battlefield realities to the king, emphasizing Droṇa’s dominance. He states that, in his observation, only Pradyumna—identified as Rukmiṇī’s son—appears capable of standing before Droṇa as a genuine counter-combatant.