Shloka 2
अर्जुनकर्णसंनिपातवर्णनम् / The Convergence of Arjuna and Karṇa
आशीविषसमं युद्धे सर्वशस्त्रविशारदम्
āśīviṣa-samaṁ yuddhe sarva-śastra-viśāradaṁ | karṇaṁ yuddhe viṣadhara-sarpa-samānaṁ bhayaṅkaraṁ sampūrṇa-śastra-vidyāsu nipuṇaṁ tathā kauravāṇām agraṇīṁ | sa śatru-pakṣe sarveṣāṁ kalyāṇa-sādhakaḥ kavaca-bhūta iva tiṣṭhati | vṛṣasena-suṣeṇa-prabhṛtayo dhanurdharās tasya rakṣakā āsan ||
ユディシュティラは言った。「戦場においてカルナは毒蛇のごとく—恐るべく、あらゆる武器の術に通暁していた。彼はカウラヴァの先頭に立つ将であり、敵方にあってなお味方を守る鎧のように、己が陣営の利と安寧を支えた。ヴリシャセーナやスシェーナといった弓の名手が彼を護衛していた。」
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a single exceptionally skilled and resolute warrior can become the ‘armor’ of an entire army—showing the ethical weight of leadership and competence in war, and how loyalty and protection of one’s side can decisively shape outcomes, even when viewed as threatening by the opponent.
Yudhiṣṭhira describes Karṇa’s battlefield presence: he is portrayed as terrifying and supremely trained in weapons, acting as the Kauravas’ foremost support. The verse also notes that Karṇa is guarded by capable archers such as Vṛṣasena and Suṣeṇa.