Shloka 20
Kṛṣṇopadeśa and Duryodhana’s Challenge
Droṇa-parva, Adhyāya 77
गाण्डीवं च धर्नुर्दिव्यं योद्धा चाहं नरर्षभ । त्वंच यन्ता हृषीकेश कि नु स्यथादजितं मया,नरश्रेष्ठ हृषीकेश! जहाँ गाण्डीव-जैसा दिव्य धनुष है, मैं योद्धा हूँ और आप सारथि हैं, वहाँ मैं किसको नहीं जीत सकता?
gāṇḍīvaṃ ca dhanuḥ divyaṃ yoddhā cāhaṃ nararṣabha | tvaṃ ca yantā hṛṣīkeśa kiṃ nu syāt ajitaṃ mayā ||
Arjuna said: “I possess the divine bow Gāṇḍīva, and I myself am a warrior, O best of men. And you, Hṛṣīkeśa, are my charioteer. With these on my side, what could possibly remain unconquered by me?”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior’s reliance on both personal capability and divine guidance: Arjuna’s martial excellence (symbolized by Gāṇḍīva) is paired with Kṛṣṇa’s directing presence as charioteer, suggesting that strength becomes decisive when aligned with higher counsel and righteous purpose.
In the midst of the Drona Parva’s intense battle setting, Arjuna addresses Kṛṣṇa with confident resolve, asserting that with his divine weapon and Kṛṣṇa steering his chariot, no opponent should remain beyond his power to defeat.