Shloka 68
श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुनको एक रथपर मिले हुए देखकर मुझे बड़ा भय लगता है, मेरा हृदय घबरा उठता है। अर्जुन युद्धमें समस्त धनुर्धरोंसे बढ़कर हैं और नारायणस्वरूप भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण भी चक्र-युद्धमें अपना सानी नहीं रखते। पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुन और वसुदेवनन्दन श्रीकृष्ण दोनों ऐसे ही पराक्रमी हैं। हिमालय भले ही अपने स्थानसे हट जाय; किंतु दोनों कृष्ण अपनी मर्यादासे विचलित नहीं हो सकते ।। उभौ हि शूरौ बलिनौ दृढायुधौ महारथौ संहननोपपन्नौ । एतादृशौ फाल्गुनवासुदेवौ कोडन्य: प्रतीयान्मदृते तौ तु शल्य,वे दोनों ही शौर्यसम्पन्न, बलवान, सुदृढ़ आयुधोंवाले और महारथी हैं, उनके शरीर सुगठित एवं शक्तिशाली हैं। शल्य! ऐसे अर्जुन और श्रीकृष्णका सामना करनेके लिये मेरे सिवा दूसरा कौन जा सकता है?
śalya uvāca—ubhau hi śūrāu balinau dṛḍhāyudhau mahārathau saṃhananopapannau | etādṛśau phālgunavāsudevau ko 'nyaḥ pratīyān madṛte tau ||
Karna said: “O Śalya, seeing Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna united on a single chariot fills me with dread; my heart trembles. Arjuna surpasses all bowmen in battle, and Nārāyaṇa himself—Śrī Kṛṣṇa—has no equal in the warfare of the discus. Both the son of Pāṇḍu and the son of Vasudeva are of such invincible prowess. The Himālaya might shift from its place, but these two Kṛṣṇas cannot be shaken from their ordained limits. For they are both heroic and mighty, firm in their weapons, great chariot-warriors, and endowed with powerful frames. Who besides me could even think of facing such Phālguna and Vāsudeva?”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and psychological reality of war: true strength is recognized even in one’s opponents, and the presence of dharmic, divinely-guided power (Kṛṣṇa with Arjuna) can unsettle even the greatest fighter. It also shows the warrior’s code of honesty about merit, alongside pride and resolve—Karna admits fear yet claims responsibility to face them.
During the Karṇa Parva battle context, Karna addresses Śalya (his charioteer), describing how terrifying it is to see Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna together on one chariot. He extols their unmatched martial qualities—Arjuna as supreme archer and Kṛṣṇa as unrivaled in cakra-warfare—then asserts that no one but he can confront such opponents.