न चावाभ्याम् ऋते ऽन्यो ऽस्ति शक्तस् तं प्रतिबाधितुम् ॥
त्वरमाणस् ततो याहि यतः प्राग्ज्योतिषाधिपः ॥
शक्रसख्याद् द्विपबलैर् वयसा चापि विस्मितम् ॥
अद्यैनं प्रेषयिष्यामि बलहन्तुः प्रियातिथिम् ॥
na cāvābhyām ṛte 'nyo 'sti śaktas taṃ pratibādhitum ||
tvaramāṇas tato yāhi yataḥ prāgjyotiṣādhipaḥ ||
śakrasakhyād dvipabalair vayasā cāpi vismitam ||
adyainaṃ preṣayiṣyāmi balahantuḥ priyātithim ||
'And there is no other besides the two of us capable of withstanding him; therefore drive in haste to where the lord of Pragjyotisha is. Him, puffed up with pride in his friendship with Shakra, his elephant's might, and his years — today I shall send him, a dear guest, to the slayer of Bala.'
2128f07527fe · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:11:21 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Arjuna lists what Bhagadatta prides himself on — friendship with Indra, his elephant's might, his advanced years — and in that very pride he sees his vulnerability: one who has grown proud is already half defeated. And the words 'I shall send him as a dear guest to [Yama]' are bitter warrior's irony, in which death is clothed in courtesy. It is notable that Arjuna does not fear the enemy's celebrated merits, yet does not mock them either — he honors them and is still ready to strike him down. The verse teaches that even greatness, once turned into pride, becomes a weakness; that a warrior's speech can clothe the terrible in calm courtesy without losing its firmness; and that a worthy opponent meets a worthy opponent without malice yet without hesitation, acknowledging his greatness while still carrying his duty through to the end.