Shloka 57
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय १४० (कृष्णेन कर्णं प्रति पाण्डवबल-वैशिष्ट्यप्रदर्शनम्) / Udyoga Parva, Chapter 140
Krishna’s appraisal of Pandava advantage and war portents
समुपानय कौन्तेयं युद्धाय मम केशव । मन्त्रसंवरणं कुर्वन् नित्यमेव परंतप,शत्रुओंकोी संताप देनेवाले केशव! आप इस मन्त्रणाको सदा गुप्त रखते हुए ही कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुनको मेरे साथ युद्ध करनेके लिये ले आवें
samupānaya kaunteyaṃ yuddhāya mama keśava | mantra-saṃvaraṇaṃ kurvan nityam eva paraṃtapa ||
Karna said: “O Keśava, bring Kaunteya (Arjuna) to fight with me. While doing so, keep this counsel strictly concealed at all times, O scorcher of foes.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethics of wartime counsel: strategic deliberations (mantra) are to be guarded, and a warrior’s challenge is framed within kṣatriya honor—seeking a direct, decisive encounter rather than disorderly conflict.
Karna addresses Kṛṣṇa, urging him to bring Arjuna to face Karna in battle, while insisting that the surrounding counsel or plan be kept confidential—showing Karna’s focus on a climactic duel and the importance of secrecy in negotiations and war preparations.