Shloka 6
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 20 — Yudhiṣṭhira–Duryodhana Encounter and Escalation of Arms
सर्वमाख्यातवान् वीरो वासुदेव: किरीटिने,वीर वसुदेवनन्दन श्रीकृष्णने किरीटधारी अर्जुनको ये सारी बातें बतायीं। यह सुनकर तथा अपने भाईके ऊपर आये हुए इस घोर एवं महान् भयको देखकर पाण्डुकुमार अर्जुनने कहा--'हृषीकेश! आप शीघ्र ही इन घोड़ोंको बढ़ाइये'
sarvam ākhyātavān vīro vāsudevaḥ kirīṭine | śrutvā ca tad bhayān ghoraṃ mahad bhrātari vartamānam | pāṇḍukumāro 'rjuno 'bravīd—hṛṣīkeśa! śīghram etān aśvān vardhaya ||
Sañjaya said: The heroic Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) told everything to the diadem-wearing Arjuna. Hearing this, and seeing the dreadful and great peril that had befallen his brother, Arjuna, the son of Pāṇḍu, spoke: “Hṛṣīkeśa, quickly urge these horses on.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-duty expressed as swift, decisive action in response to imminent danger to one’s kin, and the coordinated reliance between warrior and charioteer—Arjuna’s resolve paired with Kṛṣṇa’s guidance and execution.
After Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva) has explained the situation to Arjuna, Arjuna perceives a grave threat to his brother on the battlefield and urgently instructs Kṛṣṇa, addressed as Hṛṣīkeśa, to drive the chariot faster by urging the horses onward.