Mahabharata · 7.69.37–38
॥
Devanāgarī
न कृष्णो न च कौन्तेयो न चान्यः शस्त्रभृद् रणे ॥
शरान् अर्पयितुं कश् चित् कवचे तव शक्ष्यति ॥
स त्वं कवचम् आस्थाय क्रुद्धम् अद्य रणे ऽर्जुनम् ॥
त्वरमाणः स्वयं याहि न चासौ त्वां सहिष्यते ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
na kṛṣṇo na ca kaunteyo na cānyaḥ śastrabhṛd raṇe ||
śarān arpayituṃ kaś cit kavace tava śakṣyati ||
sa tvaṃ kavacam āsthāya kruddham adya raṇe 'rjunam ||
tvaramāṇaḥ svayaṃ yāhi na cāsau tvāṃ sahiṣyate ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
न कृष्णः न च कौन्तेयःna kṛṣṇaḥ na ca kaunteyaḥneither Krishna nor Kaunteya; neither Krishna nor Kaunteya
न च अन्यः शस्त्रभृत् रणेna ca anyaḥ śastrabhṛt raṇenor any other weapon-bearer in battle; nor any other armed warrior in battle
शरान् अर्पयितुम् कः चित्śarān arpayitum kaḥ citto plant arrows -- anyone; to plant arrows -- no one
कवचे तव शक्ष्यतिkavace tava śakṣyatiin your armor will be able; will be able, in your armor
सः त्वम् कवचम् आस्थायsaḥ tvam kavacam āsthāyayou, having put on the armor; you, having put on the armor
क्रुद्धम् अद्य रणे अर्जुनम्kruddham adya raṇe arjunam[against] the enraged Arjuna today in battle; against the enraged Arjuna today in battle
त्वरमाणः स्वयम् याहिtvaramāṇaḥ svayam yāhihastening, go yourself; hastening, go yourself
न च असौ त्वाम् सहिष्यतेna ca asau tvām sahiṣyateand he shall not overcome [withstand] you; and he shall not overcome you
Translation
"Neither Krishna nor Kaunteya nor any other weapon-bearer in battle will be able to plant arrows in your armor. Having put on the armor, hasten and go yourself today against Arjuna, enraged in battle, and he will not overcome you."
Version
5b787d7551ab · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:45:02 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Drona promises the unthinkable: "na kṛṣṇaḥ na kaunteyaḥ... śarān arpayituṃ śakṣyati" -- "neither Krishna nor Arjuna will pierce this armor." But this promise, however sincerely given, is bound to meet the will of the Lord: what Drona blesses cannot overrule what Krishna has determined. It is telling that two forces here collide -- the teacher's gift and God's decision. The verse teaches that human blessing, however mighty, does not overturn the will of God: armor invulnerable to men is powerless where the Lord decides; and protection granted to the unrighteous will not outweigh the verdict of the higher truth.