Chapter XI · Śloka 34
द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं च
कर्णं तथान्यानपि योधवीरान् |
मया हतांस्त्वं जहि मा व्यथिष्ठा
युध्यस्व जेतासि रणे सपत्नान् ||
कर्णं तथान्यानपि योधवीरान् |
मया हतांस्त्वं जहि मा व्यथिष्ठा
युध्यस्व जेतासि रणे सपत्नान् ||
droṇaṃ ca bhīṣmaṃ ca jayadrathaṃ ca
karṇaṃ tathānyān api yodha-vīrān |
mayā hatāṃs tvaṃ jahi mā vyathiṣṭhā
yudhyasva jetāsi raṇe sapatnān ||
karṇaṃ tathānyān api yodha-vīrān |
mayā hatāṃs tvaṃ jahi mā vyathiṣṭhā
yudhyasva jetāsi raṇe sapatnān ||
Drona, Bhīṣma, Jayadratha, Karṇa, and all the other great warriors have already been destroyed by Me. Slay them without being disturbed. Simply fight, and you shall vanquish your enemies in battle.
Krishna names the greatest opponents to remove Arjuna's last hesitation — the most honoured and feared are already slain in the divine plan. The command is not cruelty but liberation from the paralysis of misplaced compassion.