द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं च
कर्णं तथाऽन्यानपि योधवीरान् ।
मया हतांस्त्वं जहि मा व्यथिष्ठाः
युध्यस्व जेतासि रणे सपत्नान् ॥ ३४ ॥
कर्णं तथाऽन्यानपि योधवीरान् ।
मया हतांस्त्वं जहि मा व्यथिष्ठाः
युध्यस्व जेतासि रणे सपत्नान् ॥ ३४ ॥
droṇaṃ ca bhīṣmaṃ ca jayadrathaṃ ca
karṇaṃ tathā’nyānapi yodhavīrān .
mayā hatāṃstvaṃ jahi mā vyathiṣṭhāḥ
yudhyasva jetāsi raṇe sapatnān .. 34 ..
Droṇa and Bhīṣma, Jayadratha, Karṇa and other brave warriors,—these, killed by Me, do thou kill; fear not, fight, thou shalt conquer the enemies.
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The lord speaks of these warriors—whom Arjuna had any reason to fear—as killed by Himself. Now it is evident why there should be any hesitation (on the part of Arjuna) concerning Droṇa and Bhīṣma. Droṇa was his teacher in the science of archery, was possessed of celestial weapons and was especially his (Arjuna’s) own dear greatest Guru. Bhīṣma had his death at his own command and was possessed of celestial weapons. He once entered into a single combat with Parasu-Rāma and was not defeated. As to Jayadratha, his father was engaged in austerity, firmly resolved that “whoever causes my son’s head to drop down on earth, his head too shall fall.” Karṇa, too, was furnished with an unerring Śakti (missile) given him by Indra. He was a son of the sun, born of a maiden. Wherefore he is also mentioned by name. Enemies: such as Duryodhana.