Shloka 19
अर्जुनस्य रथाश्वमोचनं कृष्णस्याश्वसेवा च
Arjuna’s Horses Freed; Krishna’s Equine Service
त्वं चापि रथिनां श्रेष्ठ: स्वयं शूरोडमितद्युते । स कथं पाण्डवेयेभ्यो भयं पश्यसि सैन्धव,“अमित तेजस्वी सिंधुराज! तुम स्वयं भी तो रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ शूरवीर हो, फिर पाण्डुके पुत्रोंसे अपने लिये भय क्यों देख रहे हो?
tvaṃ cāpi rathināṃ śreṣṭhaḥ svayaṃ śūro 'damitadyute | sa kathaṃ pāṇḍaveyebhyo bhayaṃ paśyasi saindhava ||
Sanjaya said: “You too are foremost among chariot-warriors—yourself a hero of unquenched splendor. Why then, O Saindhava, do you look for fear for yourself from the sons of Pāṇḍu?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical expectation of a kṣatriya: one who claims foremost prowess and undiminished brilliance should not succumb to fear. It implicitly critiques self-image and reputation when they are contradicted by anxiety in the face of worthy opponents.
Sanjaya addresses Jayadratha (the Sindhu-king), pointing out that he is reputed to be a top chariot-warrior and personally brave; therefore Sanjaya questions why Jayadratha anticipates danger from the Pāṇḍavas. The line functions as a pointed challenge to Jayadratha’s confidence amid the pressures of the battlefield.