Shloka 33
अलंबलवधः (Alaṃbala-vadhaḥ) / The Slaying of Alaṃbala and the Advance toward Karṇa
प्रत्युवाच महातेजा: कालयुक्तमिदं वच: । सव्यसाची अर्जुनके ऐसा कहनेपर महातेजस्वी महाबाहु केशवने उनसे यह समयोचित वचन कहा-- |। अलमेष महाबाहु: कणणयैकोडपि पाण्डव
pratyuvāca mahātejāḥ kālayuktam idaṃ vacaḥ | savyasācī arjunakeśavaḥ … | alam eṣa mahābāhuḥ karṇayā ekodapi pāṇḍavaḥ |
Sañjaya said: In response, the radiant one spoke words suited to the moment. When the ambidextrous Arjuna had spoken thus, the mighty-armed Keśava replied with timely counsel—declaring that it was enough: even a single Pāṇḍava, with Karṇa as his opponent, was sufficient. The statement frames Kṛṣṇa’s strategic reassurance to steady Arjuna’s resolve amid the moral pressure and urgency of battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Timely speech and strategic reassurance are part of righteous action in crisis: a leader steadies a wavering warrior by focusing on what is sufficient and necessary, preventing fear or overcomplication from weakening resolve.
Sañjaya narrates that after Arjuna speaks, Keśava (Kṛṣṇa) answers with words suited to the moment, reassuring him about facing Karṇa—emphasizing that even one capable Pāṇḍava can be enough, thereby strengthening Arjuna’s confidence and readiness.