Shloka 6
Kṛṣṇasya Karṇam Prati Sāntvavacana
Kṛṣṇa’s Conciliatory Address to Karṇa
यस्य लोके समो नास्ति कश्चिदन्यो धनुर्धर: । मत्प्रसादात् स बीभत्सु: श्रेयानन्यैर्धनुर्धरै:
yasya loke samo nāsti kaścid anyo dhanurdharaḥ | matprasādāt sa bībhatsuḥ śreyān anyair dhanurdharaiḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Di dunia ini tiada pemanah lain yang setara dengannya. Dengan kurnia dan restuku, Arjuna—pahlawan yang menggerunkan itu—telah menjadi lebih unggul daripada semua pemanah yang lain; pada saat ini, tiada pemanah kedua yang dapat dibandingkan dengannya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how recognized authority (Bhishma) validates merit: Arjuna’s unmatched skill is affirmed as a matter of public standing, linking martial excellence with earned honor and the responsibilities of kshatriya duty.
Bhishma, speaking in the Udyoga Parva context of impending war and counsel, declares Arjuna to be unrivaled among archers and attributes Arjuna’s superiority to Bhishma’s own favor/support, emphasizing Arjuna’s preeminence at that moment.