Shloka 30
Adhyāya 113: Karṇa–Bhīma Śaravarṣa and the Battlefield Aftermath (कर्णभीमशरवर्षः)
एतेड<र्जुनस्य क्रुद्धस्प कलां ना्हन्ति षोडशीम् । 'राजन्! जो सौवीर, सिन्धु तथा पुरुदेशके योद्धा हैं, जो उत्तर और दक्षिणके निवासी एवं अन्य महारथी हैं तथा जो कर्ण आदि श्रेष्ठ रथी बताये गये हैं वे कुपित हुए अर्जुनकी सोलहवीं कलाके बराबर भी नहीं हैं ।। उद्युक्ता पृथिवी सर्वा ससुरासुरमानुषा,“नरेश्वर! देवता, असुर, मनुष्य, राक्षस, किन्नर तथा महान् सर्पगणोंसहित यह समूची पृथ्वी और सभी स्थावर-जंगम प्राणी युद्धके लिये उद्यत हो जायँ तो भी सब मिलकर भी युद्धस्थलमें अर्जुनका सामना नहीं कर सकते हैं
sañjaya uvāca | ete 'rjunasya kruddhasya kalāṃ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm | rājan ye sauvīrāḥ sindhavaś ca tathā purudeśakāḥ yoddhāḥ ye cottara-dakṣiṇa-nivāsinaḥ anye ca mahārathāḥ karṇādayaś ca śreṣṭhā rathinaḥ kathitāḥ te 'pi kupitasyārjunasya ṣoḍaśīṃ kalām api na samāḥ || udyuktā pṛthivī sarvā sa-surāsura-mānuṣā | nareśvara devatā asurā manuṣyā rākṣasāḥ kinnarāś ca mahā-sarpāś ca saha yadi yuddhāya samudyatā bhaveyuḥ tathāpi sarve militvā yuddha-sthale 'rjunam abhimukhaṃ na śaknuyuḥ ||
Sanjaya said: O King, the warriors of Sauvīra, Sindhu, and Purudeśa—those from the northern and southern regions, and other great chariot-fighters, even those famed as foremost among charioteers such as Karṇa—do not amount to even a sixteenth part of Arjuna when he is enraged. Even if the whole earth, together with gods, demons, and humans—along with rākṣasas, kinnaras, and mighty serpents, and all beings moving and unmoving—were to rise up for battle, still, united, they would not be able to face Arjuna on the battlefield. Ethically, the passage underscores how a single warrior’s disciplined prowess, when inflamed by righteous wrath, can eclipse mere numbers—hinting that power without dharmic restraint becomes overwhelming and fearsome.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that sheer numbers and reputation cannot match concentrated skill and resolve; it also implicitly warns that anger, when joined to extraordinary capability, becomes a force that must be governed by dharma and self-control.
Sanjaya reports to the king that Arjuna, in a state of wrath, is so formidable that even renowned warriors (including those associated with Karṇa) and even a vast coalition of beings would be unable to confront him in battle.