Shloka 18
भीष्मवधोपाय-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into the means to overcome Bhīṣma) | Chapter 103
त॑ दृष्टवा क्षत्रिया: शूरा: प्रतपन्तं तरस्विनम् । द्विफाल्गुनमिमं लोक॑ मेनिरे तस्य कर्मभि:,सबको संताप देते हुए उस वेगशाली वीरको देखकर समस्त शूरवीर क्षत्रिय उसके कर्मोद्वारा यह मानने लगे कि इस लोकमें दो अर्जुन हो गये हैं
taṁ dṛṣṭvā kṣatriyāḥ śūrāḥ pratapantaṁ tarasvinam | dviphalgunam imaṁ lokaṁ menire tasya karmabhiḥ ||
三阇耶说：见那位迅疾而雄伟的英雄，战意炽燃，逼迫敌军；诸勇猛的刹帝利凭其功业判断，竟以为此世间如今已有两个阿周那。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Deeds shape perception and moral authority in the battlefield: extraordinary valor and effectiveness can elevate a warrior’s standing so greatly that others speak of him as equal to a legendary exemplar (here, Arjuna). The verse highlights how kṣatriya-dharma evaluates a fighter primarily through visible conduct—courage, force, and impact—rather than mere claims.
Sañjaya reports that the assembled warrior-nobles, witnessing a forceful hero ‘blazing’ in combat and causing intense distress to opponents, were astonished by his performance. On the strength of his actions, they concluded that it was as if the world now contained ‘two Arjunas’—i.e., someone fighting with Arjuna-like prowess.