Shloka 6
अर्जुन-कर्ण-सङ्ग्रामः
Arjuna–Karna Engagement in the Cattle-Raid Aftermath
एकश्न् पञ्च वर्षाणि ब्रह्म॒चर्यमधारयत् । एक: सुभद्रामारोप्य द्वैरथे कृष्णमाह्दयत्
ekaśan pañca varṣāṇi brahmacaryam adhārayat | ekaḥ subhadrām āropya dvairathe kṛṣṇam āhvayat ||
Kṛpa said: “Living on a single meal a day, he upheld the vow of brahmacarya for five years in severe discipline. And all alone, he set Subhadrā upon his chariot and carried her off, even challenging Śrī Kṛṣṇa himself to a duel.”
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse juxtaposes inner discipline (austerity and brahmacarya) with outward aggression (abduction and challenging Kṛṣṇa), prompting reflection on how virtues like self-control and courage can be ethically undermined when driven by pride or coercive action.
Kṛpa is describing a person’s remarkable feats: maintaining strict brahmacarya while living on one meal daily for five years, then single-handedly placing Subhadrā on a chariot and carrying her off, and even issuing a direct challenge to Kṛṣṇa for a chariot-duel.