Shloka 19
अयं स रथ आयाति श्वेताश्वः कृष्णसारथि: । निषघ्नन्नमित्रान् समरे यं कर्ण परिपृच्छसि
ayaṁ sa ratha āyāti śvetāśvaḥ kṛṣṇasārathiḥ | niṣaghnann amitrān samare yaṁ karṇa paripṛcchasi ||
“Wahai Karna! Itulah kereta yang sedang mendatang—ditarik kuda putih dan dipandu Krishna. Itulah kereta yang engkau tanyakan: ia mara di medan tempur, menumpaskan musuh dalam pertembungan perang, dan kini menuju ke sini.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical ideal of guided action in conflict: Arjuna’s chariot advances under Krishna’s charioteership, suggesting that martial power is most rightly exercised when directed by discerning counsel and aligned with dharma, even amid the violence of war.
Arjuna identifies for Karna the approaching chariot with white horses driven by Krishna—Arjuna’s own war-chariot—describing it as moving through the battlefield while striking down enemies, directly answering Karna’s inquiry about that formidable presence.