Shloka 4
अर्जुन-माहात्म्य-चिन्ता
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Arjuna’s Strategic Supremacy
द्रोणकर्णो प्रतीयातां यदि वीरौ नरर्षभौ । कृतास्त्रौ बलिनां श्रेष्ठी समरेष्वपराजितौ
droṇakarṇau pratīyātāṃ yadi vīrau nararṣabhau | kṛtāstrau balināṃ śreṣṭhau samareṣv aparājitau ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra dit : «Quand bien même les deux héros, taureaux parmi les hommes—Droṇa et Karṇa—s’avanceraient pour affronter (Arjuna), tous deux parfaitement instruits dans les armes, premiers entre les puissants et invaincus dans les combats, je demeure saisi d’un grand doute quant à la possibilité de vaincre Arjuna. Car je ne vois pas de triomphe assuré pour mon camp : Karṇa est compatissant et sujet aux relâchements, et le maître Droṇa, outre son grand âge, est aussi le propre guru d’Arjuna.»
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and reputation do not guarantee righteous success: inner qualities (compassion, carelessness) and moral bonds (a teacher’s attachment to his disciple) can limit even the mightiest warriors. Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s doubt also reflects how adharma-driven ambition breeds insecurity rather than confidence.
In Udyoga Parva, as war becomes imminent, Dhṛtarāṣṭra assesses his champions. He acknowledges that even if Droṇa and Karṇa—celebrated, undefeated, and expertly trained—confront Arjuna, he still fears defeat, citing Karṇa’s softness and negligence and Droṇa’s age and his role as Arjuna’s guru.