Shloka 20
कर्णपर्व — पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः | Karṇa Parva, Chapter 15: Pāṇḍya’s Advance and Aśvatthāmā’s Counterstroke
सर्वभूतवरौ वीरी नरनारायणाविमौ । “जो सदा चन्द्रमाकी कान्ति, अग्निकी दीप्ति, वायुका बल और सूर्यका तेज धारण करते हैं, वे ही ये दोनों वीर श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुन हैं। एक ही रथपर बैठे हुए ये दोनों वीर ब्रह्मा तथा भगवान् शंकरके समान सर्वथा अजेय हैं। ये ही सम्पूर्ण भूतोंमें सर्वश्रेष्ठ वीर नर और नारायण हैं" || १८-१९ है ।। इत्येतन्महदाश्चर्य दृष्टवा श्रुव्वा च भारत
sañjaya uvāca |
sarvabhūtavarau vīrau naranārāyaṇāv imau |
yo sadā candramā-kāntiṃ agni-dīptiṃ vāyu-balaṃ sūrya-tejaś ca dhārayati, tau eva imau vīrau śrīkṛṣṇārjunau |
ekasmin rathopaviṣṭau etau vīrau brahma-śaṅkarābhyāṃ samau sarvathā ajeyau |
etau eva sarvabhūteṣu śreṣṭhau vīrau narāyaṇau naraś ca |
ity etan mahad āścaryaṃ dṛṣṭvā śrutvā ca bhārata ||
Sañjaya said: “These two are the foremost heroes among all beings—Nara and Nārāyaṇa themselves. They are the very Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, who ever bear within them the moon’s cool radiance, the fire’s blazing splendor, the wind’s strength, and the sun’s brilliance. Seated together upon a single chariot, they are utterly unconquerable, like Brahmā and Lord Śaṅkara. Indeed, among all creatures, these two are the supreme heroes—Nara and Nārāyaṇa.” Having seen and heard this great marvel, O Bhārata…
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna as the divine-human pair Nārāyaṇa and Nara, suggesting that righteous action (Arjuna/Nara) becomes invincible when aligned with divine guidance and purpose (Kṛṣṇa/Nārāyaṇa). Their ‘bearing’ of lunar, fiery, windy, and solar qualities symbolizes completeness of virtues—calm clarity, ardor, strength, and luminous power—supporting dharmic victory.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra a striking recognition: the two warriors on one chariot—Kṛṣṇa as charioteer and Arjuna as archer—are not merely allies but the exalted Nara-Nārāyaṇa. By comparing them to Brahmā and Śiva and calling them unconquerable, the narration heightens the sense that the Pāṇḍava side is protected by a cosmic, divinely sanctioned force.