Shloka 17
घटोत्कच-कर्णयुद्धम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Karna Combat and the Release of Śakti
कृती दक्षो युवा शूर: कृतास्त्रो लघुविक्रम: । दिव्यास्त्रयुक्तमास्थाय रथं वानरलक्षणम्,अर्जुन अस्त्रविद्याके विद्वान, दक्ष, युवावस्थासे सम्पन्न, शूरवीर, अनेक दिव्यास्त्रोंके ज्ञाता और शीतघ्रता-पूर्वक पराक्रम प्रकट करनेवाले हैं। वे दिव्यास्त्रोंसे सम्पन्न एवं वानरध्वजसे उपलक्षित रथपर बैठे हुए थे। श्रीकृष्णने उनके घोड़ोंकी बागडोर ले रखी थी। वे अभेद कवचसे सुरक्षित थे। उन्हे अपने बाहुबलका अभिमान है ही। ऐसी दशामें पराक्रमी अर्जुन कभी जीर्ण न होनेवाले दिव्य गाण्डीव धनुषको लेकर तीखे बाणोंकी वर्षा करते हुए यदि वहाँ आचार्य द्रोणको लाँघ गये तो वह उनके योग्य ही कर्म था
kṛtī dakṣo yuvā śūraḥ kṛtāstro laghu-vikramaḥ | divyāstra-yuktam āsthāya rathaṁ vānaralakṣaṇam ||
Karna said: “Arjuna is accomplished and capable—young, heroic, fully trained in weapons, and swift in action. Mounted upon his chariot marked with the monkey-banner and equipped with celestial missiles, he advanced. In such a condition, if the mighty Arjuna, taking up his unfailing divine bow Gāṇḍīva and showering sharp arrows, passed beyond Ācārya Droṇa, that deed was only fitting for him.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores a kṣatriya ethic: extraordinary outcomes in battle are explained by extraordinary preparation—skill, discipline, mastery of weapons, and swift courage. Karna frames Arjuna’s success as ‘appropriate’ to his proven capability rather than as mere luck.
Karna describes Arjuna’s battlefield readiness—his youth, heroism, mastery of astras, and his chariot with the monkey-banner—and argues that if Arjuna managed to press past Droṇa while raining arrows with Gāṇḍīva, it is consistent with Arjuna’s known prowess.