Shloka 5
Aśvatthāman’s Arrow-Screen and the Confrontation with Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रौणि–युधिष्ठिर-संग्रामः)
एवमेवात्मनो वीर्यमहं वीर्य च पाण्डवे | जानन्ेवाह्नये युद्धे शल्य गाण्डीवधारिणम्,शल्य! मैं अपना और पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनका बल-पराक्रम समझकर ही गाण्डीवधारी पार्थको युद्धके लिये बुलाता हूँ
evam evātmano vīryam ahaṃ vīryaṃ ca pāṇḍave | jānann evāhnaye yuddhe śalya gāṇḍīvadhāriṇam ||
Dijo Karna: «Conociendo bien la medida de mi propia destreza y la del hijo de Pāṇḍu, desafío al portador del Gāṇḍīva a la batalla, oh Śalya, plenamente consciente de lo que tal combate entraña».
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a warrior-ethic of deliberate choice: Karna claims he challenges Arjuna not out of ignorance but with clear awareness of both opponents’ strength. Ethically, it frames combat as a conscious acceptance of risk and responsibility, while also revealing the tension between honor and pride.
Karna addresses Śalya (his charioteer) and asserts that he knowingly calls Arjuna—the famed bearer of the Gāṇḍīva—to battle. The line functions as Karna’s self-justification and declaration of resolve before the climactic confrontation.