Shloka 18
Kṛpa’s Archery Display; Śikhaṇḍin Checked; Suketu Slain; Dhṛṣṭadyumna–Kṛtavarmā Clash (कृपशौर्य–पार्षतहार्दिक्ययुद्धम्)
क्रुद्धं सिंह केसरिणं बृहन्तं बालो मूढ: क्षुद्रमृगस्तरस्वी । समाह्दयेत् तद्धदेतत् तवाद्य समाद्टदानं सूतपुत्रार्जुनस्य,'सूतपुत्र! जैसे बालक, मूढ़ और वेगसे चौकड़ी भरनेवाला क्षुद्र मृग क्रोधमें भरे हुए विशालकाय, केसरयुक्त सिंहको ललकारे, तुम्हारा आज यह अर्जुनका युद्धके लिये आह्वान करना भी वैसा ही है
kruddhaṃ siṃha-keśariṇaṃ bṛhantaṃ bālo mūḍhaḥ kṣudra-mṛgas tarasvī | samāhvayet tad dhy etat tavādya samāhvānaṃ sūtaputrārjunasya ||
Sañjaya said: “O Sūtaputra, just as a foolish childlike creature—a small, swift deer—might rashly challenge a huge, maned lion inflamed with anger, so too is your challenge to Arjuna for battle today. It is a reckless provocation, blind to the true measure of strength and consequence.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns against arrogant or impulsive provocation: challenging a superior force without discernment is self-destructive. Ethically, it critiques pride and delusion in war—valor must be guided by clear judgment, not by rashness or anger.
Sañjaya addresses Karṇa (called ‘Sūtaputra’) and compares his calling Arjuna to battle to a small swift animal foolishly challenging an enraged lion. The simile underscores the perceived imbalance and the peril of Karṇa’s challenge at this moment in the war.