Shloka 64
तमीदृशं वीर्यगुणोपपन्नं कृष्णद्वितीयं परमं नृपाणाम् । तमाह्नयन् साहसमुतन्तमं वै जाने स्वयं सर्वलोकस्य शल्य
tam īdṛśaṃ vīrya-guṇopapannaṃ kṛṣṇa-dvitīyaṃ paramaṃ nṛpāṇām | tam āhvayan sāhasam uttamaṃ vai jāne svayaṃ sarva-lokasya śalya śalya ||
Disse Karna: “Ó Śalya, desafiar para a batalha um homem assim—dotado de poder heroico e virtudes, tendo Krishna como seu segundo e sendo o primeiro entre os reis—é, de fato, o mais alto ato de ousadia. Eu mesmo sei que, aos olhos do mundo inteiro, isso é uma temeridade extraordinária.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid hostility, true kshatriya honor includes clear-eyed recognition of an opponent’s excellence. Karna frames the act of challenging Arjuna—supported by Krishna—as extraordinary daring, highlighting the ethical weight of acknowledging merit and the gravity of war.
Karna addresses Shalya and remarks that to call Arjuna to battle is a supreme act of audacity, because Arjuna is exceptionally valorous and has Krishna as his close support. The line underscores Arjuna’s stature and the peril Karna knowingly embraces.