Shloka 466
दुर्योधन–द्रोणसंवादः
Arjuna-vīrya-prasaṃśā and renewed battle formation
कथं तान् संयुगे कर्ण जेतुमुत्सहसे परान् । युधिष्ठिर भी यदि रोषभरी दृष्टिसे देखें तो इस भूमण्डलको भस्म कर सकते हैं। कर्ण! जिनके लिये अनन्त बलशाली भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण भी कवच धारण करके लड़नेको तैयार हैं, उन शत्रुओंको युद्धमें जीतनेका साहस तुम कैसे कर रहे हो?
kathaṁ tān saṁyuge karṇa jetum utsahase parān | yudhiṣṭhiraḥ api yadi roṣa-bharīṁ dṛṣṭiṁ paśyet, tadā asya bhūmaṇḍalasya bhasma-karaṇaṁ śaknoti | karṇa! yeṣāṁ kṛte ananta-balaśālī bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇaḥ api kavacaṁ dhṛtvā yoddhuṁ prastutaḥ, tān śatrūn yuddhe jetuṁ tvaṁ kathaṁ sāhasaṁ karoṣi? ||
Kripa said: “How can you, Karna, dare to defeat those mighty foes in battle? If Yudhishthira were to cast even a wrath-filled glance, he could reduce this whole earth to ashes. And those enemies—for whose sake even the infinitely powerful Lord Krishna is ready to don armor and fight—how can you have the audacity to conquer them in war?”
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns against overconfidence in war and urges realistic judgment: when opponents are protected by dharma and even by Krishna’s readiness to fight, mere personal valor is not enough. Ethical counsel here emphasizes humility, prudence, and recognizing the moral and spiritual forces that shape outcomes.
Kripa addresses Karna, questioning his confidence in defeating the Pandava side. He highlights Yudhishthira’s latent, fearsome power and underscores that Krishna himself is prepared to take up arms for their cause—implying that Karna is underestimating both the warriors and the divine backing behind them.