Shloka 26
Kṛṣṇa-vīrya-kathana
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s appraisal of Vāsudeva’s deeds
के वा तत्र तनूंस्त्यक्त्वा प्रतीपं मृत्युमाव्रजन् । अमानुषाणां जेतारं युद्धेष्वपि धनंजयम्,मानवेतर प्राणियों (देवताओं और दैत्यों)-पर भी विजय पानेवाले वीर अर्जुनको युद्धमें अपने प्रतिकूल पाकर किन वीरोंने वहाँ अपने शरीरोंको निछावर करके मृत्युको स्वीकार किया?
ke vā tatra tanūṁs tyaktvā pratīpaṁ mṛtyum āvrajan | amānuṣāṇāṁ jetāraṁ yuddheṣv api dhanañjayam |
के वा तत्र तनूंस्त्यक्त्वा प्रतीपं मृत्युमाव्रजन् । अमानुषाणां जेतारं युद्धेष्वपि धनंजयम् ॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the awe-inspiring stature of Arjuna as a warrior and frames death in battle as an accepted consequence of confronting overwhelming prowess—highlighting the kṣatriya-world’s ethic where valor may culminate in willingly risking (and losing) the body for one’s cause.
Vaiśampāyana poses a rhetorical, anticipatory question: on the battlefield, which warriors met their end after encountering Arjuna, famed as a victor even over non-human adversaries. It sets up the ensuing account of those who fell when opposed by him.