Shloka 39
कृष्णेन अर्जुनस्य प्रोत्साहनम् — Kṛṣṇa’s Exhortation to Arjuna
Prelude to Karṇa’s Slaying
राजन्! उस समरमें योद्धाओंके व्रतका पालन करनेमें विख्यात शूरवीर जिसका त्याग करना अत्यन्त कठिन है, उस भयको छोड़कर निर्भयके समान पराक्रम प्रकट करते थे ।।
śaraśaktisamākīrṇe kravyādagaṇasaṅkule | vyacaranta raṇe śūrāḥ khyāpayantaḥ svapauruṣam ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Di medan perang yang dipenuhi anak panah dan tombak, serta sesak oleh makhluk pemakan daging, para pahlawan bergerak ke sana kemari, memasyhurkan keberanian mereka. Wahai Raja, termasyhur karena ikrar ksatria, mereka menanggalkan rasa takut—yang paling sukar ditinggalkan—dan menampakkan kegagahan seolah tanpa gentar.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal: steadfastness to the warrior’s vow and the deliberate casting off of fear, even when the battlefield is horrific. Ethical emphasis lies on resolve and duty-driven courage rather than panic or retreat.
Sañjaya depicts the battlefield as littered with missiles and swarming with scavengers; amid this grim scene, warriors continue to move through the fight, demonstrating and publicizing their prowess.