Shloka 41
Droṇa’s Conditional Boon: The Plan to Capture Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रोणेन युधिष्ठिरग्रहणोपायः)
न वेद कृष्णं दाशार्हमर्जुनं चैव पाण्डवम् । पूर्वदेवी महात्मानौ नरनारायणावुभौ
na veda kṛṣṇaṃ dāśārham arjunaṃ caiva pāṇḍavam | pūrvadevī mahātmānau naranārāyaṇāv ubhau ||
ಅವಳು ದಾಶಾರ್ಹ ವಂಶದ ಕೃಷ್ಣನನ್ನೂ, ಪಾಂಡವ ಅರ್ಜುನನನ್ನೂ ಅರಿಯಲಿಲ್ಲ—ಆ ಇಬ್ಬರು ಮಹಾತ್ಮರು ಪೂರ್ವಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ನರ-ನಾರಾಯಣರೆಂಬ ದಿವ್ಯ ಜೋಡಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದರು.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that true spiritual stature and dharma may remain unrecognized when one is clouded by ignorance or circumstance; Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna are presented as the timeless divine pair Nara–Nārāyaṇa appearing again, implying continuity of righteous purpose across ages.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that a divine lady (pūrvadevī) fails to recognize Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna in their present forms, though they are in essence the ancient divine duo Nara and Nārāyaṇa—an identification that elevates their role in the unfolding events of the war.