Shloka 723
कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line
त्वं हि सर्वगुणैर्युक्तो दैवतेभ्योडघिक: प्रभो | “पितामह! कवच
tvaṃ hi sarvaguṇair yukto daivatebhyo 'dhikaḥ prabho |
Duryodhana dijo: «Oh Señor, estás dotado de toda excelencia y eres superior incluso a los dioses. En verdad, la eficacia de la armadura, de las armas y del arco depende del auriga; y allí no vemos a nadie digno de ser auriga sino a ti solo.»
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that martial power is not only in weapons but in the competence guiding them—especially the charioteer’s role in positioning, timing, and control. Ethically, it also shows how praise can be used to secure support and authority in war.
Duryodhana addresses Bhīṣma as ‘Pītāmaha,’ exalting him as surpassing even the gods and urging that no one else is fit to serve as charioteer. He argues that the success of armor, weapons, and bow depends on the charioteer, thereby pressing Bhīṣma’s indispensability.