Shloka 32
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय १४० (कृष्णेन कर्णं प्रति पाण्डवबल-वैशिष्ट्यप्रदर्शनम्) / Udyoga Parva, Chapter 140
Krishna’s appraisal of Pandava advantage and war portents
गाण्डीव धनुष सुवाका काम करेगा और विपक्षी वीरोंका पराक्रम ही हवनीय घृत होगा। माधव! सव्यसाची अर्जुनद्वारा प्रयुक्त होनेवाले ऐन्द्र, पाशुपत, ब्राह्म और स्थूणाकर्ण आदि अस्त्र ही वेद-मन्त्र होंगे ।। अनुयातश्न पितरमधिको वा पराक्रमे । गीत॑ स्तोत्र स सौभद्र: सम्यक् तत्र भविष्यति,सुभद्राकुमार अभिमन्यु भी अस्त्रविद्यामें अपने पिताका ही अनुसरण करनेवाला अथवा पराक्रममें उनसे भी बढ़कर है। वह इस शस्त्रयञ्ञमें उत्तम स्तोत्रगान (उदगातृकर्म)-की पूर्ति करेगा
anuyātaś ca pitaraṃ adhiko vā parākrame | gīta-stotraḥ sa saubhadraḥ samyak tatra bhaviṣyati ||
Karna said: “Subhadrā’s son, Abhimanyu, follows in his father’s footsteps in the science of weapons—or may even surpass him in valor. In this great ‘sacrifice’ of battle, he will fittingly fulfill the role of the singer of hymns, offering the proper chants of praise.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises disciplined inheritance of excellence: Abhimanyu embodies the continuity of martial training and dharmic heroism, suggesting that true prowess is not merely personal but cultivated through rightful lineage, instruction, and proper conduct—likened to performing a rite correctly.
In Karna’s speech anticipating the coming war, he highlights Abhimanyu’s capability—either as a faithful imitator of Arjuna’s weapon-skill or as one who may exceed him—using the metaphor of battle as a sacrificial rite where Abhimanyu ‘sings the hymns’ (i.e., contributes decisively and fittingly).