Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange
Chapter 55
यह शीघ्रतापूर्वक अस्त्र चलानेमें आचार्य द्रोणके शिष्योंमें प्रथम माना गया है। इस युद्धमें आज मैं इसे शीघ्र अस्त्र चलानेकी विपुल कलाका दर्शन कराऊँगा ।।
yaḥ śīghratāpūrvakam astrāṇi calane ācārya-droṇasya śiṣyeṣu prathamo mataḥ। asmin yuddhe ’dya tam ahaṁ śīghrāstra-prayogasya vipulāṁ kalāṁ darśayiṣyāmi॥ nāgakakṣā tu rucirā dhvajāgre yasya tiṣṭhati। eṣa vaikartanaḥ karṇo viditaḥ pūrvam eva te॥
Arjuna berkata: “Dia dianggap yang terunggul antara murid-murid Ācārya Droṇa dalam melepaskan senjata dengan pantas. Hari ini, dalam peperangan ini, aku akan membuatnya menyaksikan keluasan seni penggunaan senjata pantas itu. Yang panjinya di hujung tiang memaparkan lambang indah seekor gajah dan rantainya—dialah Karṇa, putera Vikartana, yang telah engkau kenali sejak dahulu.”
अजुन उवाच
Even amid hostility, a warrior is expected to recognize an opponent’s excellence and meet it with disciplined skill; prowess is acknowledged, yet directed toward one’s duty in battle.
Arjuna identifies Karṇa by his distinctive banner emblem and declares his intent to confront him, forcing Karṇa to demonstrate his famed speed and mastery in weapon deployment.