Shloka 16
Adhyāya 41 — Kṛṣṇa’s Battlefield Briefing and the Renewal of the Great Engagement
अद्याहवे यस्य न तुल्यमन्यं मन्ये मनुष्यं धनुराददानम्
adyāhave yasya na tulyam anyaṃ manye manuṣyaṃ dhanur ādadānam
Sañjaya said: “Today, on the battlefield, I deem there to be no other man equal to him as he takes up his bow.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the classical epic ideal of martial excellence: in a moment of crisis, a warrior’s resolve and readiness—symbolized by taking up the bow—becomes the measure of his stature. Ethically, it underscores how reputation and perceived superiority are forged and tested in action, especially under the pressure of dharma-bound warfare.
Sañjaya, reporting the battle to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, praises a particular warrior’s unmatched prowess at the very moment he arms himself. The line functions as a heightened battlefield appraisal, preparing the listener for a significant clash or decisive display of archery.