Shloka 10
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय संवादः — उपप्लव्यगमनाज्ञा
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue: Command to Proceed to Upaplavya
स होवैक: पृथिवीं सव्यसाची गाण्डीवधन्वा प्रणुदेद् रथस्थ: । तथा जिष्णु: केशवो&प्यप्रधृष्यो लोकत्रयस्याधिपतिर्महात्मा,गाण्डीवधारी सव्यसाची अर्जुन रथमें बैठकर अकेले ही सारी पृथ्वीको जीत सकते हैं। इसी प्रकार विजयशील एवं दुर्धर्ष महात्मा श्रीकृष्ण भी तीनों लोकोंको जीतकर उनके अधिपति हो सकते हैं। जो समस्त लोकोंमें एकमात्र सर्वश्रेष्ठ वीर हैं, जो मेघ-गर्जनाके समान गम्भीर शब्द करनेवाले तथा टिडियोंके दलकी भाँति तीव्र वेगसे चलनेवाले बाणसमूहोंकी वर्षा करते हैं, उन वीरवर अर्जुनके सामने कौन मनुष्य ठहर सकता है? स सोमदत्त: कुशली तात कच्चिद् भूरिश्रवा: सत्यसंध: शलश्न | द्रोण: सपुत्रश्न कृपश्च विप्रो महेष्वासा: कच्चिदेते5प्यरोगा: तात! सोमदत्त, भूरिश्रवा, सत्यप्रतिज्ञ शल, पुत्रसहित द्रोणाचार्य और विद्रश्रेष्ठ कृपाचार्य--ये महाधनुर्धर वीर स्वस्थ तो हैं न?
sa hovaikaḥ pṛthivīṃ savyasācī gāṇḍīvadhanvā praṇuded rathasthaḥ | tathā jiṣṇuḥ keśavo 'py apradhṛṣyo lokatrayasyādhipatir mahātmā || somadattaḥ kuśalī tāta kaccid bhūriśravāḥ satyasaṃdhaḥ śalaś ca | droṇaḥ saputraś ca kṛpaś ca vipro maheṣvāsāḥ kaccid ete 'py arogāḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “Savyasācin Arjuna, the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva, seated in his chariot, could by himself subdue the whole earth. In the same way, the victorious and unassailable Keśava—great-souled—could conquer the three worlds and become their lord. Before that foremost of heroes, whose roar is like thunder and whose arrows pour forth in swift, swarming volleys, what man could stand? And, dear one, are Somadatta well? Is Bhūriśravā, and Śala of truthful resolve? Are Droṇa with his son, and the brahmin Kṛpa—those great bowmen—also free from illness?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores the moral and strategic weight of extraordinary capability: Arjuna’s martial excellence and Kṛṣṇa’s cosmic sovereignty are presented as decisive forces, implying that power aligned with rightful purpose can determine the fate of realms; it also models the dharmic practice of inquiring after the welfare of even formidable opponents.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes the unmatched might of Arjuna (with the Gāṇḍīva) and of Kṛṣṇa (as unassailable lord of the three worlds), then shifts to a status inquiry—asking whether key Kaurava-side warriors (Somadatta, Bhūriśravā, Śala, Droṇa with his son, and Kṛpa) are healthy—typical of pre-war assessments and diplomatic/strategic reporting in the Udyoga Parva.