Shloka 21
अर्जुनकर्णयोर्युद्धवर्णनम्
Description of the Arjuna–Karṇa Engagement and Counsel to Duryodhana
अथोपयातोौ पृथुलोहिताक्षौ शराचिताज्ै रुधिरप्रदिग्धौ । समीक्ष्य सेनाग्रनरप्रवीरौ युधिष्ठिरो वाक्यमिदं बभाषे,सेनाके अग्रभागमें युद्ध करनेवाले पुरुषोंमें प्रमुख वीर विशाल एवं लाल नेत्रोंवाले श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुन जब समीप आये, तब उनके सारे अंगोंमें बाण धँसे हुए थे। वे खूनसे लथपथ हो रहे थे; उन्हें देखकर युधिष्ठिरने निम्नांकित रूपसे बातचीत आरम्भ की
athopayātau pṛthulohitākṣau śarācitājai rudhirapradigdhau | samīkṣya senāgranara-pravīrau yudhiṣṭhiro vākyam idaṃ babhāṣe ||
三阇耶说：随后，奎师那与阿周那——身躯魁伟、双目赤红——走近前来，遍体中箭，血迹斑斑。尤提施提罗见这两位在军阵前锋奋战的首席勇士，便开口说道。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of war: even divinely guided and heroic figures bear wounds and blood, reminding a righteous king like Yudhiṣṭhira that victory is inseparable from suffering and responsibility. It frames speech and judgment in war as acts of dharma, not mere strategy.
Sañjaya reports that Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna approach, visibly injured—pierced by arrows and blood-smeared—after fighting at the army’s front. On seeing them, Yudhiṣṭhira begins a conversation, setting up the next exchange in the chapter.