Shloka 16
कर्णार्जुनसमागमः — The Karṇa–Arjuna Confrontation
Cosmic Spectatorship and Vows
अर्जुनं जयतां श्रेष्ठ त्वरितो5भ्येत्य वीर्यवान् | विधुन्वानो महच्चापं कार्तस्वरविभूषितम्
sañjaya uvāca |
arjunaṃ jayatāṃ śreṣṭha tvarito ’bhyetya vīryavān |
vidhunvāno mahācāpaṃ kārtasvaravibhūṣitam ||
Sañjaya said: “O best of victors, the mighty warrior hurried forward toward Arjuna, shaking his great bow, adorned with gleaming gold.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of decisive action and visible readiness in battle: courage is expressed not only in intent but in swift, disciplined movement and the confident bearing of one’s arms.
Sañjaya reports that a powerful warrior quickly advances toward Arjuna, brandishing a large bow ornamented with gold—signaling an imminent clash and the escalation of combat.