Mahabharata · 1.181.15–16
॥
Devanāgarī
कर्ण उवाच
तुष्यामि ते विप्रमुख्य भुजवीर्यस्य संयुगे ॥
अविषादस्य चैवास्य शस्त्रास्त्रविनयस्य च ॥
किं त्वं साक्षाद् धनुर्वेदो रामो वा विप्रसत्तम ॥
अथ साक्षाद् धरिहयः साक्षाद् वा विष्णुर् अच्युतः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
karṇa uvāca
tuṣyāmi te vipramukhya bhujavīryasya saṃyuge ||
aviṣādasya caivāsya śastrāstravinayasya ca ||
kiṃ tvaṃ sākṣād dhanurvedo rāmo vā viprasattama ||
atha sākṣād dharihayaḥ sākṣād vā viṣṇur acyutaḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
तुष्यामि ते विप्रमुख्य भुजवीर्यस्य संयुगेtuṣyāmi te vipramukhya bhujavīryasya saṃyuge"I am pleased with the valor of your arms in battle, O foremost of vipras,
अविषादस्य च एव अस्य शस्त्रास्त्रविनयस्य चaviṣādasya ca eva asya śastrāstravinayasya caand with your composure, and with your training in weapons;
किं त्वं साक्षात् धनुर्वेदः रामः वा विप्रसत्तमkiṃ tvaṃ sākṣāt dhanurvedaḥ rāmaḥ vā viprasattamaare you yourself the very science of the bow, or Rama, O best of vipras,
अथ साक्षात् हरिहयः साक्षात् वा विष्णुः अच्युतःatha sākṣāt harihayaḥ sākṣāt vā viṣṇuḥ acyutaḥor is it Harihaya [Indra] himself, or Vishnu Achyuta himself?"
कर्णkarṇaoriginal form "karṇa", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
चैवास्यcaivāsyaoriginal form "caivāsya", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
साक्षाद्sākṣādoriginal form "sākṣād", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
धनुर्वेदोdhanurvedooriginal form "dhanurvedo", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
रामोrāmooriginal form "rāmo", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
साक्षाद्sākṣādoriginal form "sākṣād", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
धरिहयःdharihayaḥoriginal form "dharihayaḥ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
साक्षाद्sākṣādoriginal form "sākṣād", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
विष्णुर्viṣṇuroriginal form "viṣṇur", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
Karna said: "I am pleased with the valor of your arms in battle, O foremost of vipras, and with your composure, and with your training in weapons. Are you yourself the science of the bow, or Parashurama, O best of vipras, or Indra himself, or Vishnu Achyuta himself?"
Version
83631a22a299 · published Jul 12, 2026, 5:44:41 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here an enemy, struck by such might, senses something divine in his rival. It is telling that Karna wonders whether this is Parashurama, Indra, or Vishnu himself -- incomparable valor prompts the thought of the divine. Here is the truth that genuine greatness cannot be hidden: it declares itself, compelling recognition of what is higher. Thus the verse shows that Arjuna's might betrays his superhuman nature; and Karna, honoring his opponent, unwittingly draws near the truth.