Shloka 23
पृथिव्यां तु रणे पार्थ न योद्धा त्वत्सम: पुमान् । धनुग्रहा हि ये केचित् क्षत्रिया युद्धदुर्मदा:,प्रयाहि शीघ्र॑ गोविन्द सूतपुत्रजिघांसया । “गोविन्द! अब मेरा रथ तैयार हो। उसमें पुनः उत्तम घोड़े जोते जायँ और मेरे उस विशाल रथमें सब प्रकारके अस्त्र-शस्त्र सजाकर रख दिये जायाँ। अअभ्वारोहियोंद्वारा सिखलाये और टहलाये गये घोड़े रथसम्बन्धी उपकरणोंसे सुसज्जित हो शीघ्र यहाँ आवें और आप सूतपुत्रके वधकी इच्छासे जल्दी ही यहाँसे प्रस्थान कीजिये”
sañjaya uvāca |
pr̥thivyāṁ tu raṇe pārtha na yoddhā tvat-samaḥ pumān |
dhanur-grahā hi ye kecit kṣatriyā yuddha-durmadāḥ |
prayāhi śīghraṁ govinda sūta-putra-jighāṁsayā ||
Sañjaya said: “O Pārtha, on this earth, in battle there is no man equal to you as a warrior. Whatever Kṣatriyas there are who take up the bow—though maddened by the pride of war—none match you. Therefore, O Govinda, depart at once, intent on the slaying of the charioteer’s son (Karna).”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates how martial dharma is reinforced through praise and urgency: Arjuna is reminded of his unmatched duty as a warrior, and Kṛṣṇa is urged to act swiftly toward a decisive objective. It also invites reflection on how rhetoric in war can intensify resolve and narrow ethical focus to victory and elimination of the opponent.
Sañjaya reports an exhortation addressed to Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa: Arjuna is declared unrivaled among archers, and Kṛṣṇa (Govinda) is urged to depart immediately with the intention of slaying Karna (called sūtaputra). The line functions as a spur toward rapid action in the climactic Karna-Arjuna confrontation.