Shloka 68
श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुनको एक रथपर मिले हुए देखकर मुझे बड़ा भय लगता है
śalya uvāca—ubhau hi śūrāu balinau dṛḍhāyudhau mahārathau saṃhananopapannau | etādṛśau phālgunavāsudevau ko 'nyaḥ pratīyān madṛte tau ||
Disse Karna: “Ó Śalya, ver Kṛṣṇa e Arjuna unidos num só carro enche-me de pavor; meu coração estremece. Arjuna supera todos os arqueiros na batalha, e o próprio Nārāyaṇa—Śrī Kṛṣṇa—não tem igual na guerra do disco. Tanto o filho de Pāṇḍu quanto o filho de Vasudeva possuem um poder invencível. O Himalaia poderia mudar de lugar, mas esses dois Kṛṣṇas não podem ser abalados para fora dos limites que lhes foram ordenados. Pois ambos são heroicos e poderosos, firmes em suas armas, grandes guerreiros de carro, dotados de corpos vigorosos. Quem, além de mim, poderia sequer pensar em enfrentar tal Phālguna e tal Vāsudeva?”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and psychological reality of war: true strength is recognized even in one’s opponents, and the presence of dharmic, divinely-guided power (Kṛṣṇa with Arjuna) can unsettle even the greatest fighter. It also shows the warrior’s code of honesty about merit, alongside pride and resolve—Karna admits fear yet claims responsibility to face them.
During the Karṇa Parva battle context, Karna addresses Śalya (his charioteer), describing how terrifying it is to see Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna together on one chariot. He extols their unmatched martial qualities—Arjuna as supreme archer and Kṛṣṇa as unrivaled in cakra-warfare—then asserts that no one but he can confront such opponents.