Shloka 2

Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 20 — Yudhiṣṭhira–Duryodhana Encounter and Escalation of Arms

Devanagari script

समाप्तविद्यो बलवान्‌ युक्तो वीर: स पाण्डव: । सर्वभूतेष्वनुज्ञात: शड्करेण महात्मना

Transliteration

saṃāptavidyo balavān yukto vīraḥ sa pāṇḍavaḥ | sarvabhūteṣv anujñātaḥ śaṅkareṇa mahātmanā ||

Translation

Sañjaya thưa: Vị anh hùng Pāṇḍava ấy—Arjuna, con trai của Pāṇḍu—đã hoàn tất việc rèn luyện các nghệ thuật chiến trận. Mạnh mẽ và kiên định trong mưu cầu chiến thắng, chàng còn được Đại Thần Śaṅkara (Śiva) rộng lòng gia hộ và ban lời bảo chứng: “Giữa muôn loài, ngươi sẽ là bậc đứng đầu và không ai khuất phục được.”

Word by Word

• {'saṃāpta-vidyaḥ': 'one whose learning/training has been completed', 'balavān': 'strong, powerful', 'yuktaḥ': 'disciplined

• properly equipped/steadfast', 'vīraḥ': 'hero, valiant warrior', 'pāṇḍavaḥ': 'a son/descendant of Pāṇḍu

• here, Arjuna', 'sarva-bhūteṣu': 'among all beings/creatures', 'anujñātaḥ': 'permitted, sanctioned, granted approval/boon', 'śaṅkareṇa': 'by Śaṅkara (Śiva)', 'mahātmanā': 'by the great-souled one

• noble, exalted', 'pāṇḍu-kumāraḥ': 'son of Pāṇḍu', 'arjunaḥ': 'Arjuna (the Pāṇḍava archer)', 'yuddha-vidyā': 'knowledge/skill of warfare', 'śikṣā': 'training, instruction'}

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• Pāṇḍu
• Śaṅkara (Śiva)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Mastery gained through disciplined training (yuddha-vidyā) is strengthened and ethically legitimized when aligned with higher sanction—here symbolized by Śaṅkara’s anujñā (gracious approval). The verse emphasizes preparedness, steadfast effort, and the role of divine grace in empowering righteous action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Arjuna as fully trained in warfare, strong and resolute in seeking victory, and specially favored by Lord Śiva (Śaṅkara), who has granted him an assurance of preeminence and invincibility among beings—highlighting Arjuna’s formidable standing in the coming battle.