Shloka 723
कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line
त्वं हि सर्वगुणैर्युक्तो दैवतेभ्योडघिक: प्रभो | “पितामह! कवच
tvaṃ hi sarvaguṇair yukto daivatebhyo 'dhikaḥ prabho |
Duryodhana berkata: “Wahai Tuan, engkau dikurniai segala keunggulan dan bahkan mengatasi para dewa. Sesungguhnya, keberkesanan zirah, senjata, dan busur juga bergantung pada sais kereta; dan kami tidak melihat sesiapa pun di sana yang layak menjadi sais selain engkau seorang. Wahai Tuan, kerana engkau lebih mulia daripada segala dewa dan sempurna dengan segala sifat.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that martial power is not only in weapons but in the competence guiding them—especially the charioteer’s role in positioning, timing, and control. Ethically, it also shows how praise can be used to secure support and authority in war.
Duryodhana addresses Bhīṣma as ‘Pītāmaha,’ exalting him as surpassing even the gods and urging that no one else is fit to serve as charioteer. He argues that the success of armor, weapons, and bow depends on the charioteer, thereby pressing Bhīṣma’s indispensability.