तथा त्वमपि राधेय सिंहमात्मानमिच्छसि । अपश्यन् शत्रुदमनं नरव्याप्रं धनंजयम्,“राधानन्दन! उसी प्रकार तुम भी शत्रुओंका दमन करनेवाले पुरुषसिंह अर्जुनको न देखनेके कारण ही अपनेको सिंह समझना चाहते हो
tathā tvam api rādheya siṁham ātmānam icchasi | apaśyan śatrudamanaṁ naravyāghraṁ dhanaṁjayam ||
Sañjaya said: “So too, O son of Rādhā, you wish to think of yourself as a lion—only because you do not see Dhanañjaya Arjuna, that tamer of foes, that tiger among men. Your self-assurance is born of not confronting the true measure of your opponent.”
संजय उवाच
True strength requires clear-eyed recognition of reality; pride that arises from not facing the actual opponent is self-deception. The verse cautions against inflated self-estimation and urges humility grounded in accurate appraisal.
Sañjaya addresses Karna, implying that Karna’s confidence comes from not directly seeing Arjuna’s formidable presence and prowess. By calling Arjuna ‘tamer of foes’ and ‘tiger among men,’ Sañjaya underscores Arjuna’s superiority and challenges Karna’s self-image.