Shloka 7
कर्णस्य सेनापत्याभिषेकः | Karṇa’s Consecration as Commander-in-Chief
यो बाल एव समरे सम्मित: सव्यसाचिना । केशवेन च दुर्धर्षो बलदेवेन वा विभो
yo bāla eva samare sammitaẖ savyasācinā | keśavena ca durdharṣo baladevena vā vibho ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Dia yang sejak masih kanak-kanak lagi sudah sepadan di medan perang dengan Savyasācin (Arjuna)—dan bahkan Keśava (Kṛṣṇa) atau Baladeva yang perkasa pun sukar menahannya, wahai tuanku.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the Mahābhārata’s ethic of recognizing true martial excellence: a warrior’s stature is shown by being able to stand against the very best (Arjuna, Kṛṣṇa, Baladeva). It highlights how reputation in dharma-yuddha is built through proven encounters, not mere claims.
Sañjaya is describing a formidable warrior whose prowess was evident even in youth—someone who could be ‘matched’ by Arjuna and is difficult to overcome even for Kṛṣṇa or Baladeva—thereby emphasizing the extraordinary danger and strength present on the battlefield in the Karṇa Parva context.