Shloka 32
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय १४० (कृष्णेन कर्णं प्रति पाण्डवबल-वैशिष्ट्यप्रदर्शनम्) / Udyoga Parva, Chapter 140
Krishna’s appraisal of Pandava advantage and war portents
गाण्डीव धनुष सुवाका काम करेगा और विपक्षी वीरोंका पराक्रम ही हवनीय घृत होगा। माधव! सव्यसाची अर्जुनद्वारा प्रयुक्त होनेवाले ऐन्द्र, पाशुपत, ब्राह्म और स्थूणाकर्ण आदि अस्त्र ही वेद-मन्त्र होंगे ।।
anuyātaś ca pitaraṃ adhiko vā parākrame | gīta-stotraḥ sa saubhadraḥ samyak tatra bhaviṣyati ||
Karna dijo: «Abhimanyu, hijo de Subhadrā, sigue las huellas de su padre en la ciencia de las armas—o quizá lo supere en valor. En este gran “sacrificio” de la batalla, cumplirá dignamente el papel del cantor de himnos, ofreciendo los cánticos de alabanza como corresponde.»
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises disciplined inheritance of excellence: Abhimanyu embodies the continuity of martial training and dharmic heroism, suggesting that true prowess is not merely personal but cultivated through rightful lineage, instruction, and proper conduct—likened to performing a rite correctly.
In Karna’s speech anticipating the coming war, he highlights Abhimanyu’s capability—either as a faithful imitator of Arjuna’s weapon-skill or as one who may exceed him—using the metaphor of battle as a sacrificial rite where Abhimanyu ‘sings the hymns’ (i.e., contributes decisively and fittingly).