Shloka 26
Kṛṣṇa-vīrya-kathana
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s appraisal of Vāsudeva’s deeds
के वा तत्र तनूंस्त्यक्त्वा प्रतीपं मृत्युमाव्रजन् । अमानुषाणां जेतारं युद्धेष्वपि धनंजयम्,मानवेतर प्राणियों (देवताओं और दैत्यों)-पर भी विजय पानेवाले वीर अर्जुनको युद्धमें अपने प्रतिकूल पाकर किन वीरोंने वहाँ अपने शरीरोंको निछावर करके मृत्युको स्वीकार किया?
ke vā tatra tanūṁs tyaktvā pratīpaṁ mṛtyum āvrajan | amānuṣāṇāṁ jetāraṁ yuddheṣv api dhanañjayam |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Di medan itu, siapakah yang melepaskan tubuh mereka dan pergi menemui maut meski tidak menghendakinya—setelah berhadapan dalam perang dengan Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), penakluk musuh bukan manusia (dewa dan asura) sekalipun?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the awe-inspiring stature of Arjuna as a warrior and frames death in battle as an accepted consequence of confronting overwhelming prowess—highlighting the kṣatriya-world’s ethic where valor may culminate in willingly risking (and losing) the body for one’s cause.
Vaiśampāyana poses a rhetorical, anticipatory question: on the battlefield, which warriors met their end after encountering Arjuna, famed as a victor even over non-human adversaries. It sets up the ensuing account of those who fell when opposed by him.