Shloka 38
Droṇa’s Conditional Boon: The Plan to Capture Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रोणेन युधिष्ठिरग्रहणोपायः)
अर्जुन: केशवस्यात्मा कृष्णो5प्यात्मा किरीटिन: । अर्जुने विजयो नित्यं कृष्णे कीर्तिश्व शाश्वती,अर्जुन श्रीकृष्णके आत्मा हैं और श्रीकृष्ण किरीटधारी अर्जुनके आत्मा हैं। अर्जुनमें विजय नित्य विद्यमान है और श्रीकृष्णमें कीर्तिका सनातन निवास है
arjunaḥ keśavasyātmā kṛṣṇo 'py ātmā kirīṭinaḥ | arjune vijayo nityaṃ kṛṣṇe kīrtiś ca śāśvatī ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Arjuna is, as it were, the very self of Keśava, and Kṛṣṇa likewise is the very self of the diadem-wearing Arjuna. In Arjuna, victory abides unfailingly; in Kṛṣṇa, imperishable fame has its eternal dwelling. The statement frames their alliance as a moral and strategic unity: where righteous resolve and skill stand with divine wisdom and renown, success and lasting glory naturally follow.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches the inseparability of Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa in purpose and spirit: steadfast victory is associated with Arjuna’s prowess, while enduring fame is associated with Kṛṣṇa’s divine stature. Ethically, it implies that when human effort aligns with righteous guidance, success and lasting honor follow.
In the Drona Parva’s battle context, Vaiśaṃpāyana highlights the exceptional bond between Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa (his charioteer and guide). The line functions as a narrative assurance: their unity makes Arjuna’s triumph reliable and Kṛṣṇa’s renown ever-increasing amid the war’s decisive events.