Shloka 18
Kṛpa’s Archery Display; Śikhaṇḍin Checked; Suketu Slain; Dhṛṣṭadyumna–Kṛtavarmā Clash (कृपशौर्य–पार्षतहार्दिक्ययुद्धम्)
क्रुद्धं सिंह केसरिणं बृहन्तं बालो मूढ: क्षुद्रमृगस्तरस्वी । समाह्दयेत् तद्धदेतत् तवाद्य समाद्टदानं सूतपुत्रार्जुनस्य
kruddhaṃ siṃha-keśariṇaṃ bṛhantaṃ bālo mūḍhaḥ kṣudra-mṛgas tarasvī | samāhvayet tad dhy etat tavādya samāhvānaṃ sūtaputrārjunasya ||
Sanjaya berkata: Wahai putera sais kereta! Seperti makhluk kecil yang kebudak-budakan dan bodoh—seekor rusa kecil yang pantas—dengan gopoh mencabar singa besar berjanggut surai yang sedang menggelegak marah, demikianlah juga cabaranmu hari ini kepada Arjuna untuk berperang. Ia suatu provokasi melulu, buta terhadap ukuran kekuatan dan akibatnya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns against arrogant or impulsive provocation: challenging a superior force without discernment is self-destructive. Ethically, it critiques pride and delusion in war—valor must be guided by clear judgment, not by rashness or anger.
Sañjaya addresses Karṇa (called ‘Sūtaputra’) and compares his calling Arjuna to battle to a small swift animal foolishly challenging an enraged lion. The simile underscores the perceived imbalance and the peril of Karṇa’s challenge at this moment in the war.