Shloka 21
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 165 — Bhīṣma’s Appraisal and Karṇa’s Rebuttal (भीष्म–कर्ण विवादः)
गौतमस्य महर्षेर्य आचार्यस्य शरद्वत: । कार्तिकेय इवाजेय: शरस्तम्बात् सुतो&भवत्,गौतमवंशी महर्षि आचार्य शरद्वानके पुत्र कृपाचार्य कार्तिकेयकी भाँति सरकण्डोंसे उत्पन्न हुए हैं और उन्हींकी भाँति अजेय भी हैं
gautamasya maharṣer ya ācāryasya śaradvatāḥ | kārtikeya ivājeyaḥ śarastambāt suto 'bhavat ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «De la estirpe del gran sabio Gautama, el venerado maestro Śaradvat engendró un hijo que surgió de un macizo de juncos, invencible como Kārtikeya. Con ello se pone de relieve el origen extraordinario de Kṛpa y su temible poder.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary origin and proven capability confer moral and social authority: a preceptor-warrior like Kṛpa, born in a wondrous way and described as invincible, should be respected and taken seriously in deliberations about dharma and conflict.
Bhīṣma is describing the background and stature of Śaradvat’s son (Kṛpa), emphasizing that he emerged from a reed thicket and is as unconquerable as Kārtikeya, thereby elevating Kṛpa’s standing among the elders and warriors involved in the impending Kurukṣetra war.