Shloka 17
किं त्वं साक्षाद् धनुर्वेदो रामो वा विप्रसत्तम | अथ साक्षाद्धरिहय: साक्षाद् वा विष्णुरच्युत:,विप्रशिरोमणे! आप मूर्तिमान् धनुर्वेद हैं? या परशुराम? अथवा आप स्वयं इन्द्र या अपनी महिमासे कभी च्युत न होनेवाले साक्षात् भगवान् विष्णु हैं?
kiṁ tvaṁ sākṣād dhanurvedo rāmo vā viprasattama | atha sākṣād harihayaḥ sākṣād vā viṣṇur acyutaḥ ||
हे विप्रसत्तम! तुम साक्षात् धनुर्वेद हो या परशुराम? अथवा हरिहय-स्वामी इन्द्र हो, या स्वयं अच्युत भगवान् विष्णु?
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Extraordinary skill and presence can evoke reverence and self-restraint: Karna frames unmatched martial excellence as potentially divine, reminding that power should be approached with humility and discernment, not mere arrogance.
Karna addresses an exceptional brahmin-like figure and, struck by his prowess, wonders whether he is the personified Dhanurveda, Paraśurāma, Indra, or Viṣṇu himself—an expression of astonishment and respect in a tense encounter.