Shloka 20
कृपकर्णसंवादः
Kṛpa’s Counsel to Karṇa on Deśa-Kāla and Coordinated Strategy
पृथिव्यां चतुरन्तायां वर्णो मे दुर्लभ: सम: । करोमि कर्म शुक्लं च तस्मान्मामर्जुनं विदु:,(अर्जुन शब्दके तीन अर्थ हैं--वर्ण या दीप्ति, ऋजुता या समता, धवल या शुद्ध।) चारों ओर समुद्रपर्यन्त पृथ्वीपर मेरे-जैसी दीप्ति दुर्लभ है। मैं सबके प्रति समभाव रखता हूँ और शुद्ध कर्म करता हूँ। इसी कारण विज्ञ पुरुष मुझे “अर्जुन” के नामसे जानते हैं
arjuna uvāca | pṛthivyāṃ caturantāyāṃ varṇo me durlabhaḥ samaḥ | karomi karma śuklaṃ ca tasmān mām arjunaṃ viduḥ |
Arjuna said: “On this earth, bounded on all four sides by the encircling ocean, a radiance like mine is rare. I maintain even-mindedness toward all, and I perform pure, stainless deeds. Therefore the discerning know me by the name ‘Arjuna’.”
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Arjuna grounds his name and reputation in ethical qualities: impartiality (samatā) toward all and purity of conduct (śukla-karma). The verse links true honor not merely to prowess but to inner discipline and stainless action.
Arjuna is speaking about why he is known as ‘Arjuna,’ presenting the name as an epithet tied to brilliance and moral qualities—rare radiance, even-mindedness, and pure deeds—within the Virāṭa-parvan context where identities and reputations are being articulated.