Shloka 22
भीष्मपातने कर्णविलापः | Karṇa’s Lament upon Seeing Bhīṣma Fallen
यस्य दिव्यानि कर्माणि प्रवदन्ति मनीषिण: । अमानुषैश्च संग्रामस्त्रयम्बकेण महात्मना,“आपके सिवा दूसरा कौन राजा अर्जुनसे युद्ध कर सकता है? मनीषी पुरुष जिनके दिव्य कर्मोंका बखान करते हैं, जो मानवेतर प्राणियों--असुरों तथा दैत्योंसे भी संग्राम कर चुके हैं, त्रिनेत्रधारी महात्मा भगवान् शंकरके साथ भी जिन्होंने युद्ध किया है और उनसे वह उत्तम वर प्राप्त किया है, जो अजितेन्द्रिय पुरुषोंके लिये सर्वथा दुर्लभ है, जिन्हें पहले आप भी जीत नहीं सके हैं, उन्हें आज दूसरा कौन युद्धमें जीत सकता है?
yasya divyāni karmāṇi pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ | amānuṣaiś ca saṅgrāmas trayambakeṇa mahātmanā ||
Sañjaya said: “Of him whose deeds are spoken of by the wise as truly divine—who has fought even with non-human beings, and who has also battled the great-souled Three-eyed Lord (Śiva)—who, besides you, could be a king capable of meeting Arjuna in war?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that true martial authority is grounded not merely in royal status but in proven excellence and divine-tested valor; Arjuna’s prowess is portrayed as so exceptional—acknowledged by the wise and measured even against superhuman opponents—that ordinary political power cannot easily rival it.
Sañjaya is describing Arjuna’s extraordinary reputation and past exploits to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, emphasizing that Arjuna has fought non-human beings and even encountered Śiva in battle; therefore, Sañjaya implies that few—if any—kings besides the addressed listener could credibly face Arjuna in war.