Shloka 8
धनंजय-दुर्योधन-संग्रामः
Arjuna–Duryodhana Engagement and Admonition
एहि कर्ण मया सार्ध प्रतियुध्यस्व सड़रे । प्रेक्षका: कुरव: सर्वे भवन्तु तव सैनिका:
ehi karṇa mayā sārdhaṃ pratiyudhyasva saṅgare | prekṣakāḥ kuravaḥ sarve bhavantu tava sainikāḥ ||
Arjuna berkata: “Mari, Karṇa—bertarunglah denganku di sini, di tengah kancah pertempuran yang paling sengit. Biarlah semua kaum Kuru berdiri sebagai penonton; biarlah mereka menjadi bala sokonganmu.”
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of meeting a worthy opponent directly and without evasion, and the idea that martial honor is tested openly—before witnesses—so that courage and conduct are accountable to the wider community.
Arjuna openly calls Karna to face him in battle, declaring that the Kurus may watch as witnesses and that Karna may count them as his supporting force—an emphatic challenge that frames the encounter as a public trial of valor and reputation.