Shloka 53
शल्य उवाच अजय्यमेनं प्रवदन्ति युद्धे महारथा: कर्ण रथप्रवीरम् । एकाकिनं किमु कृष्णाभिगुप्तं विजेतुमेनं क इहोत्सहेत
śalya uvāca | ajayyam enaṃ pravadanti yuddhe mahārathāḥ karṇa rathapravīram | ekākinaṃ kimu kṛṣṇābhiguptaṃ vijetum enaṃ ka ihotsaheta ||
Śalya disse: “Ó Karṇa, os grandes guerreiros de carro declaram que este herói supremo do carro é inconquistável em batalha. Se mesmo quando está sozinho é tido por invencível, quanto mais agora, protegido por Kṛṣṇa! Em tal situação, quem aqui ousaria vencê-lo?”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the perceived invincibility of a righteous and divinely supported warrior: human prowess is formidable, but when joined with divine protection (Kṛṣṇa’s guardianship), it becomes a near-insurmountable force—prompting humility and strategic realism rather than reckless pride.
Śalya, serving as Karṇa’s charioteer, speaks in a discouraging tone, emphasizing that even great warriors call Arjuna unconquerable, and that with Kṛṣṇa protecting him, defeating Arjuna is beyond anyone’s daring—an instance of counsel that also functions as psychological pressure on Karṇa.