Shloka 16
Kṛpa’s Archery Display; Śikhaṇḍin Checked; Suketu Slain; Dhṛṣṭadyumna–Kṛtavarmā Clash (कृपशौर्य–पार्षतहार्दिक्ययुद्धम्)
'सूतपुत्र! जब सव्यसाची कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुन अपने हाथमें दिव्य धनुष लेकर शत्रुसेनाको तपाते हुए पैने बाणोंद्वारा तुम्हें रौंदने लगेंगे, तब तुम्हें अपने कियेपर पछतावा होगा ।। बालश्चन्द्र मातुरडके शयानो यथा वजच्रित् प्रार्थयते5पहर्तुम् । तद्वन्मोहाद् द्योतमानं रथस्थं सम्प्रार्थयस्यर्जुनं जेतुमद्य,“जैसे अपनी माँकी गोदमें सोया हुआ कोई बालक चन्द्रमाको पकड़ लाना चाहता हो, उसी प्रकार तुम भी रथपर बैठे हुए तेजस्वी अर्जुनको आज मोहवश परास्त करना चाहते हो
sañjaya uvāca | sūtaputra! yadā savyasācī kuntīkumāra arjunaḥ divyaṃ dhanuḥ pāṇinā gṛhītvā śatrusenāṃ tāpayann iṣubhiḥ tīkṣṇaiḥ tvāṃ mardayiṣyati, tadā tvaṃ kṛte ’nuśocitā bhaviṣyasi || bālaś candram mātur aṅke śayāno yathā vajracit prārthayate ’pahartum | tadvad mohād dyotamānaṃ rathasthaṃ samprārthayasy arjunaṃ jetum adya ||
Sanjaya said: “O son of a charioteer! When Kunti’s son Arjuna, the ambidextrous archer, takes up his divine bow and, scorching the enemy host, tramples you down with his sharp arrows, then you will regret what you have done. Just as a child lying in his mother’s lap foolishly longs to seize the moon, so too, deluded, you now aspire to conquer the radiant Arjuna seated upon his chariot.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns against moha (delusion) and overconfidence: aspiring to defeat a superior, radiant warrior like Arjuna is likened to a child trying to seize the moon. Actions driven by pride and misjudgment lead to inevitable regret.
Sanjaya addresses Karna, predicting that when Arjuna takes up his divine bow and devastates the opposing forces with sharp arrows, Karna will be crushed and will repent. The simile underscores Karna’s unrealistic hope of conquering Arjuna at that moment.