Shloka 9
अस्त्रयुद्धे द्रौणिपार्थसंघर्षः — Karṇa’s Bhārgavāstra and the Search for Yudhiṣṭhira
Chapter 45
को हार्जुनस्य सान्निध्ये शक्तो5भ्येतुं युधिष्ठिरम् । सर्वभूतानि यो होक: खाण्डवे जितवान् पुरा । कस्तमन्यस्तु राधेयात् प्रतियुद्ध्येज्जिजीविषु:
sañjaya uvāca | ko hārjunasya sānnidhye śakto 'bhyetuṁ yudhiṣṭhiram | sarvabhūtāni yo lokaḥ khāṇḍave jitavān purā | kas tam anyas tu rādheyāt pratiyuddhyet jijīviṣuḥ ||
三阇耶说道：“阿周那近在身旁——昔日他曾独自于旃陀婆林（Khāṇḍava）降伏一切众生——谁还能上前攻打坚战（Yudhiṣṭhira）？除罗陀耶迦尔那（Rādheya Karṇa）之外，还有谁在仍恋生之时，敢于阿周那面前应战？”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how moral and martial authority in epic narrative is reinforced by reputation and past deeds: Arjuna’s proven prowess makes an attack on Yudhiṣṭhira nearly unthinkable, and only Karṇa—driven by kṣatriya pride and rivalry—would confront such odds despite the natural desire for self-preservation.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield situation to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, emphasizing that Yudhiṣṭhira is effectively shielded by Arjuna’s presence. He recalls Arjuna’s earlier victory in the Khāṇḍava episode to underline Arjuna’s fearsome capability, then singles out Karṇa (Rādheya) as the only warrior willing to engage Arjuna directly.