Shloka 83
द्रोणपर्व (अध्याय ११२) — कर्णभीमयोर्युद्धम्, दुर्योधनस्य रक्षणादेशः
Droṇa-parva 112: Karṇa–Bhīma Engagement and Duryodhana’s Protective Order
तन्न जानामि वार्ष्णेय यदि जीवति वा न वा । कुरूणां चापि तत् सैन्यं सागरप्रतिमं महत्,वार्ष्णेय! पता नहीं, इस समयतक अर्जुन जीवित है या नहीं। महासमरमें जिसके वेगको सहन करना देवताओंके लिये भी असम्भव है, कौरवोंकी वह सेना समुद्रके समान विशाल है, तात! उस कौरवी-सेनामें महाबाहु अर्जुनने अकेले ही प्रवेश किया है
tan na jānāmi vārṣṇeya yadi jīvati vā na vā | kurūṇāṃ cāpi tat sainyaṃ sāgara-pratimaṃ mahat |
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Wahai Vārṣṇeya, aku tidak tahu sama ada Arjuna masih hidup atau tidak. Tentera kaum Kuru luas bagaikan lautan; dalam pertempuran besar itu, gelora serangannya sedemikian rupa sehingga para dewa pun tidak sanggup menahannya. Namun ke dalam bala tentera Kaurava itu Arjuna yang berlengan perkasa telah masuk seorang diri.”
युधिष्ठिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical burden of leadership and kinship in war: even a dharmic king like Yudhiṣṭhira is shaken by uncertainty over a loved one’s survival, while also recognizing the overwhelming scale of violence. It underscores humility before fate and the human cost that persists even in a righteous cause.
In the Drona Parva’s intense fighting, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Kṛṣṇa as Vārṣṇeya, confessing he does not know whether Arjuna lives. He describes the Kaurava forces as ocean-like and nearly irresistible, and notes that Arjuna has entered that massive enemy formation alone, heightening the tension and fear for Arjuna’s safety.