Shloka 21
दुर्योधन–द्रोणसंवादः
Arjuna-vīrya-prasaṃśā and renewed battle formation
'सूतपुत्र कर्ण! तुम शरद्-ऋतुके निष्फल बादलोंके समान गर्जना करके भी निष्फल ही दिखायी देते हो; किंतु राजा दुर्योधन इस बातको नहीं समझ रहे हैं ।। तावद् गर्जस्व राधेय यावत् पार्थ न पश्यसि | आरात् परर्थ हि ते दृष्टवा दुर्लभं गर्जितं पुन:
sañjaya uvāca |
sūtaputra karṇa! tvaṁ śarad-ṛtuke niṣphala-bādalān iva garjanāṁ kṛtvāpi niṣphala eva dṛśyase; kintu rājā duryodhana etad na budhyate ||
tāvad garjasva rādheya yāvat pārthaṁ na paśyasi |
ārāt parārthaṁ hi te dṛṣṭvā durlabhaṁ garjitaṁ punaḥ ||
Sanjaya said: “O Karna, son of a charioteer! Like barren clouds in the autumn season, you thunder loudly yet appear fruitless in deed; but King Duryodhana does not understand this. Roar on, O Radheya, so long as you do not behold Partha; for once you have seen him, your thunder will be hard to find again.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse critiques empty bravado: loud claims without corresponding action are ‘fruitless’ like autumn clouds. Ethically, it warns that speech should align with capability and responsibility, especially in war where boasting can mislead allies and distort judgment.
Sanjaya, narrating events, mocks Karna’s loud threats and suggests they last only until he actually faces Arjuna (Partha). He also notes Duryodhana’s failure to recognize this, highlighting the Kaurava camp’s misplaced confidence.