Shloka 37
भीमकर्णसमागमः | Bhīma–Karṇa Encounter
यद् बल॑ तव वीर्य च केशवस्य तथैव च । तत् कुरुष्व मयि क्षिप्रं पश्यामस्तव पौरुषम्,“तुममें और श्रीकृष्णमें जो बल और पराक्रम हो, उसे मेरे ऊपर शीघ्र प्रकट करो। हम देखते हैं कि तुममें कितना पुरुषार्थ है
yad balaṁ tava vīryaṁ ca keśavasya tathaiva ca | tat kuruṣva mayi kṣipraṁ paśyāmas tava pauruṣam ||
“Apa pun kekuatan dan kegagahan yang ada padamu—dan demikian pula pada Keśava—tumpahkanlah segera kepadaku. Biar kami menyaksikan ukuran keperkasaanmu.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior ethos of proving one’s claimed strength through action, while also exposing the ethical tension of pride and provocation in battle—valor is demanded to be demonstrated, not merely asserted.
In the midst of the Drona Parva’s fighting, a taunting challenge is voiced (reported by Sañjaya), calling upon an opponent to immediately show the full measure of his own power and even that associated with Keśava (Kṛṣṇa), so that his prowess may be tested in combat.