वैशंपायन उवाच
तम् एवंवादिनं तत्र फल्गुनः प्रत्यभाषत ॥
नास्मि कर्ण धनुर्वेदो नास्मि रामः प्रतापवान् ॥
ब्राह्मणो ऽस्मि युधां श्रेष्ठः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः ॥
ब्राह्मे पौरंदरे चास्त्रे निष्ठितो गुरुशासनात् ॥
स्थितो ऽस्म्य् अद्य रणे जेतुं त्वां वीराविचलो भव ॥
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca
tam evaṃvādinaṃ tatra phalgunaḥ pratyabhāṣata ||
nāsmi karṇa dhanurvedo nāsmi rāmaḥ pratāpavān ||
brāhmaṇo 'smi yudhāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ ||
brāhme pauraṃdare cāstre niṣṭhito guruśāsanāt ||
sthito 'smy adya raṇe jetuṃ tvāṃ vīrāvicalo bhava ||
Vaishampayana said: "To him, speaking thus, Phalguna replied: 'I am not the science of the bow, Karna, nor the mighty Rama; I am a brahmin, foremost among fighters, most excellent among all who bear weapons. Established in the brahmic weapon and the weapon of Indra through my guru's teaching, I stand today in battle to conquer you; O hero, be steadfast.'"
3d639430d120 · published Jul 12, 2026, 5:44:41 PM UTC
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Here Arjuna keeps his secret without disowning his own might. It is telling that he does not reveal his name, yet does not lie either: "I am a brahmin, skilled in weapons" -- he stays within his guise without betraying himself. Telling too is the mention of his guru: he traces his skill to his teacher's instruction, not to himself. Here are humility and concealment together: the hero does not boast, but ascribes his strength to his guru. Thus the verse shows Arjuna's prudent restraint; and under the name of "brahmin" he reveals a might that cannot be concealed.