Shloka 5
अर्जुनकर्णसंनिपातवर्णनम् / The Convergence of Arjuna and Karṇa
परशुरामजीसे अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंका ज्ञान प्राप्त करके वह महान् शक्तिशाली और अत्यन्त दुर्जय हो गया था। समस्त संसारका सर्वश्रेष्ठ रथी एवं विश्वविख्यात वीर था ।। त्रातारं धार्तराष्ट्राणां गन्तारं वाहिनीमुखे । हन्तारं परसैन्यानाममित्रगणमर्दनम्,धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रोंका रक्षक, सेनाके मुहानेपर जाकर युद्ध करनेवाला, शत्रुसैनिकोंका संहार करनेमें समर्थ तथा विरोधियोंका मान मर्दन करनेवाला था
trātāraṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ gantāraṃ vāhinīmukhe | hantāraṃ parasainyānām amitragāṇamardanam ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “He was the protector of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons, the one who would advance to the very front of the army, the slayer of opposing forces, and the crusher of hostile ranks.”
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of guardianship and frontline responsibility: true martial excellence is framed not merely as violence, but as protection of one’s side and decisive leadership in the most dangerous place—the army’s front.
Yudhiṣṭhira describes a formidable warrior aligned with the Kauravas—one who shields Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons, advances to the battlefront, and devastates enemy formations—emphasizing his role as both defender and destroyer in the war.