Shloka 9
अस्त्रयुद्धे द्रौणिपार्थसंघर्षः — Karṇa’s Bhārgavāstra and the Search for Yudhiṣṭhira
Chapter 45
को हार्जुनस्य सान्निध्ये शक्तो5भ्येतुं युधिष्ठिरम् । सर्वभूतानि यो होक: खाण्डवे जितवान् पुरा । कस्तमन्यस्तु राधेयात् प्रतियुद्ध्येज्जिजीविषु:
sañjaya uvāca | ko hārjunasya sānnidhye śakto 'bhyetuṁ yudhiṣṭhiram | sarvabhūtāni yo lokaḥ khāṇḍave jitavān purā | kas tam anyas tu rādheyāt pratiyuddhyet jijīviṣuḥ ||
Sañjaya disse: “Quem, com Arjuna de pé tão perto, seria capaz de avançar para atacar Yudhiṣṭhira? Pois ele, outrora, em tempos antigos, venceu sozinho todos os seres na floresta de Khāṇḍava. Quem, senão Rādheya Karṇa, ousaria lutar na presença de Arjuna, mesmo ainda desejando viver?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how moral and martial authority in epic narrative is reinforced by reputation and past deeds: Arjuna’s proven prowess makes an attack on Yudhiṣṭhira nearly unthinkable, and only Karṇa—driven by kṣatriya pride and rivalry—would confront such odds despite the natural desire for self-preservation.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield situation to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, emphasizing that Yudhiṣṭhira is effectively shielded by Arjuna’s presence. He recalls Arjuna’s earlier victory in the Khāṇḍava episode to underline Arjuna’s fearsome capability, then singles out Karṇa (Rādheya) as the only warrior willing to engage Arjuna directly.