Shloka 9
तयोरेवं युद्धातोराजिमध्ये सूतात्मजो5भूदधिक: कदाचित् । पार्थ: कदाचित् त्वधिक: किरीटी वीयस्त्रिमायाबलपौरुषेण,इस प्रकार संग्रामभूमिमें ज़ूझते समय उन दोनों वीरोंमें पराक्रम, अस्त्रसंचालन, मायाबल तथा पुरुषार्थकी दृष्टिसे कभी सूतपुत्र कर्ण बढ़ जाता था और कभी किरीटधारी अर्जुन
tayor evaṁ yuddhator ājimadhye sūtātmajo ’bhūd adhikaḥ kadācit | pārthaḥ kadācit tv adhikaḥ kirīṭī vīryāstramāyābalapauruṣeṇa ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Ketika kedua-duanya bertempur di tengah-tengah barisan perang, ada kalanya Karṇa, putera sais kereta, memperoleh kelebihan; dan ada kalanya Pārtha Arjuna, si pemakai diadem, pula mengatasi—kerana keberanian, penguasaan senjata, helah strategi (māyā), kekuatan, dan daya usaha manusia.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the instability of advantage in war: superiority alternates based on valor, weapon-skill, strategy, strength, and personal exertion. It suggests that outcomes in conflict are dynamic and contingent, not fixed to one hero at every moment.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karṇa and Arjuna are engaged in a direct duel in the thick of battle, and that the upper hand shifts back and forth between them.