Shloka 23
Nara-Nārāyaṇa Precedent and Bhīṣma’s Counsel on Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna; Karṇa’s Reply
दुष्टोंका दमन करके साधु पुरुषों एवं धर्मका संरक्षण ही इनका कर्तव्य है, ये सारी बातें वेदोंके ज्ञाता नारदजीने समस्त वृष्णिवंशियोंके सम्मुख कही थीं ।। शड्खचक्रगदाहस्तं यदा द्रक्ष्यसि केशवम् | पर्याददानं चास्त्राणि भीमधन्वानमर्जुनम्,वत्स दुर्योधन! जब तुम देखोगे कि दोनों सनातन महात्मा श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुन एक ही रथपर बैठे हैं, श्रीकृष्णके हाथमें शंख, चक्र और गदा है और भयंकर धनुष धारण करनेवाले अर्जुन निरन्तर नाना प्रकारके अस्त्र लेते और छोड़ते जा रहे हैं, तब तुम्हें मेरी बातें याद आयेंगी
śaṅkhacakragadāhastaṃ yadā drakṣyasi keśavam | paryādadhānaṃ cāstrāṇi bhīmadhanvānam arjunam, vatsa duryodhana! tadā me vacanaṃ smariṣyasi ||
When, dear Duryodhana, you behold Keśava with conch, discus, and mace in hand, and Arjuna—bearing a fearsome bow—unceasingly taking up and releasing many kinds of weapons, then you will remember my words. This warning declares that dharma will be protected and the wicked restrained by those who stand with righteousness, and that the sight of Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna united will make the consequence of adharma unmistakable.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Adharma brings inevitable consequences: when divine support and righteous prowess unite (Kṛṣṇa with his emblems and Arjuna with unstoppable weapon-skill), the wrongdoer is forced to recall ignored counsel. The verse underscores that safeguarding dharma and curbing the wicked are central duties of the righteous.
A prophetic warning is recalled: Duryodhana is told that the moment he sees Kṛṣṇa armed with conch, discus, and mace, alongside Arjuna constantly deploying weapons, he will remember the earlier admonition spoken before the Vṛṣṇis—signaling that the war’s outcome is being sealed by their alliance.