Shloka 21
अर्जुन-कर्ण-सङ्ग्रामः
Arjuna–Karna Engagement in the Cattle-Raid Aftermath
द्रोणो दुर्योधनो भीष्मो भवान् द्रौणिस्तथा वयम् । सर्वे युध्यामहे पार्थ कर्ण मा साहसं कृथा:
droṇo duryodhano bhīṣmo bhavān drauṇis tathā vayam | sarve yudhyāmahe pārtha karṇa mā sāhasaṁ kṛthāḥ ||
കൃപാചാര്യൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ദ്രോണൻ, ദുര്യോധനൻ, ഭീഷ്മൻ, നീ, ദ്രോണപുത്രൻ, പിന്നെ ഞങ്ങളും—എല്ലാവരും പാർഥനോട് യുദ്ധം ചെയ്യും. കർണാ! അഹങ്കാരധൈര്യത്തോടെ അശ്രദ്ധയായി പെരുമാറരുത്.
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a warrior culture, courage is to be guided by discernment. Kripa urges Karṇa to avoid reckless overconfidence and to recognize the collective strength and responsibilities of all fighters, aligning valor with prudent judgment (dharma-informed restraint).
In the Virāṭa episode’s battle context, Kripa addresses Karṇa, listing the principal Kaurava champions (Droṇa, Duryodhana, Bhīṣma, Aśvatthāmā, and others) as ready to fight, while invoking Arjuna as “Pārtha.” He cautions Karṇa not to undertake a rash or foolhardy course of action.