Shloka 52
Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange
Chapter 55
यह शीघ्रतापूर्वक अस्त्र चलानेमें आचार्य द्रोणके शिष्योंमें प्रथम माना गया है। इस युद्धमें आज मैं इसे शीघ्र अस्त्र चलानेकी विपुल कलाका दर्शन कराऊँगा ।। नागकक्षा तु रुचिरा ध्वजाग्रे यस्य तिष्ठति । एष वैकर्तन: कर्णो विदित: पूर्वमेव ते,जिसकी ध्वजाके अग्रभागपर हाथी या उसकी साँकलके चिह्से युक्त पताका फहरा रही है, यह विकर्तनपुत्र कर्ण है। इससे तुम पहले ही परिचित हो चुके हो
yaḥ śīghratāpūrvakam astrāṇi calane ācārya-droṇasya śiṣyeṣu prathamo mataḥ। asmin yuddhe ’dya tam ahaṁ śīghrāstra-prayogasya vipulāṁ kalāṁ darśayiṣyāmi॥ nāgakakṣā tu rucirā dhvajāgre yasya tiṣṭhati। eṣa vaikartanaḥ karṇo viditaḥ pūrvam eva te॥
Arjuna disse: “Ele é considerado o principal entre os discípulos do Ācārya Droṇa no rápido disparo de armas. Hoje, nesta batalha, eu o farei ver a vasta arte do uso dessas armas velozes. Aquele cuja bandeira traz na ponta um esplêndido emblema de um elefante e sua corrente—esse é Karṇa, filho de Vikartana, já conhecido por ti.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid hostility, a warrior is expected to recognize an opponent’s excellence and meet it with disciplined skill; prowess is acknowledged, yet directed toward one’s duty in battle.
Arjuna identifies Karṇa by his distinctive banner emblem and declares his intent to confront him, forcing Karṇa to demonstrate his famed speed and mastery in weapon deployment.