Shloka 16
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 19 — Saṃśaptaka–Trigarta Assault and Aindra-astra Counter
शरवर्षरमहावेगैरमित्रानभिवर्षत: । मदन्यं नानुपश्यामि प्रतिवीरं तवाहवे,“जब तुम अपने शत्रुओंपर बड़े वेगसे बाण-वर्षा करने लगते हो, उस समय मैं अपने सिवा दूसरे किसी वीरको ऐसा नहीं देखता, जो समरांगणमें तुम्हारा सामना कर सके
śaravarṣa-ramahāvegair amitrān abhivarṣataḥ | madanyaṁ nānupaśyāmi prativīraṁ tavāhave ||
Sañjaya said: “When you unleash a torrential shower of arrows with tremendous speed upon your foes, I see no warrior—other than myself—who can stand as your equal opponent on the battlefield.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness under overwhelming force: true opposition in war requires not only strength but the capacity to endure and respond to relentless assault. It also reflects the ethical tension of martial praise—valor is admired even as it fuels escalation.
Sañjaya, reporting the battle, addresses a warrior (contextually a leading combatant) and describes how, when that warrior rains arrows upon enemies with great speed, hardly anyone can face him; Sañjaya claims that only he could serve as a matching counter-champion in that fight.