Shloka 23
अर्जुन-कर्ण-सङ्ग्रामः
Arjuna–Karna Engagement in the Cattle-Raid Aftermath
कर्ण! तुम अकेले अर्जुनसे भिड़नेका दुःसाहस न करो। आचार्य द्रोण, दुर्योधन, भीष्म, तुम, अश्वत्थामा और हम सब मिलकर अर्जुनसे युद्ध करेंगे। यदि हम छहों महारथी संगठित होकर सामना करें, तभी इन्द्रके सदृश दुर्धर्ष एवं दृढ़निश्चयी कुलीपुत्र अर्जुनके साथ युद्ध कर सकते हैं ।। व्यूढानीकानि सैन्यानि यत्ता: परमधन्विन: । युध्यामहे<र्जुनं संख्ये दानवा इव वासवम्
karṇa! tvaṁ ekalaḥ arjunena saha yoddhuṁ duḥsāhasaṁ mā kṛthāḥ | ācārya-droṇaḥ duryodhanaḥ bhīṣmaḥ tvaṁ aśvatthāmā vayaṁ ca sarve militvā arjunena yotsyāmaḥ | yadi vayaṁ ṣaḍ mahārathāḥ saṅghaṭitāḥ samāgacchema, tadā eva indra-sadṛśena durdharṣeṇa dṛḍha-niścayena kulī-putreṇa arjunena saha yoddhuṁ śakṣyāmaḥ || vyūḍhānīkāni sainyāni yattāḥ paramadhanvinaḥ | yudhyāmahe 'rjunaṁ saṅkhye dānavā iva vāsavam ||
Kṛpa disse: “Karna, não tentes a temeridade de enfrentar Arjuna sozinho. O ācārya Droṇa, Duryodhana, Bhīṣma, tu, Aśvatthāmā e todos nós lutaremos juntos contra Arjuna. Só se nós seis, grandes guerreiros de carro, o enfrentarmos de modo coordenado poderemos combater esse príncipe dos Kurus—firme em sua resolução e difícil de subjugar, como o próprio Indra. Com as formações de batalha dispostas e as tropas preparadas, lutaremos contra Arjuna em campo aberto, como os Dānavas outrora lutaram contra Indra (Vāsava).”
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes strategic prudence and humility in warfare: do not let pride drive a lone, reckless challenge against a superior opponent; coordinated effort and disciplined formation are ethically and practically wiser than impulsive heroics.
Kṛpa warns Karṇa not to fight Arjuna single-handedly. He proposes that leading Kaurava champions—Droṇa, Duryodhana, Bhīṣma, Karṇa, Aśvatthāmā, and others—should unite in a planned formation to confront Arjuna, likening the struggle to the Dānavas battling Indra.