Shloka 226
Adhyāya 41 — Kṛṣṇa’s Battlefield Briefing and the Renewal of the Great Engagement
लोके वरं सर्वधनुर्धराणां धनंजयं संयुगे संसहिष्ये । 'रथके मार्गोपर विचरनेमें कुशल, शक्तिशाली, समरांगणमें सदा महान् भार वहन करनेवाले, संसारके समस्त धनुर्धरोंमें श्रेष्ठ, प्रमुख वीर अर्जुनका आज युद्धस्थलमें मैं डटकर सामना करूँगा
loke varaṃ sarva-dhanurdharāṇāṃ dhanañjayaṃ saṃyuge saṃsahiṣye | rathake mārga-upari vicaraṇe kuśalaḥ śaktimān samara-aṅgaṇe sadā mahān bhāra-vahanaḥ saṃsārasya samasta-dhanurdharāṇāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ pramukha-vīraḥ arjunaḥ adya yuddha-sthale ahaṃ daṭṭvā sāmnā kariṣye ||
Sañjaya dit : «En ce monde, parmi tous les archers, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) est le plus éminent. Pourtant, au combat, je le soutiendrai et me dresserai contre lui. Habile à guider son char sur les chemins, puissant, toujours capable de porter de lourds fardeaux sur le champ de guerre—Arjuna, héros de premier rang et meilleur des archers—aujourd’hui, je l’affronterai avec fermeté sur le champ de bataille.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior ethic of acknowledging an opponent’s excellence while still committing to one’s duty: respect for merit (recognizing Arjuna as foremost) combined with steadfast resolve to face him in battle.
Sañjaya reports a declaration of intent to confront Arjuna on the battlefield, describing Arjuna’s superior archery, strength, and chariot-handling skill, and emphasizing a determined face-to-face engagement.