The Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form

Krishna names specific warriors who are already slain and urges Arjuna to fight. 'Droṇaṁ ca bhīṣmaṁ ca jayadrathaṁ ca karṇaṁ'—Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, and Karna. 'Tathānyān api yodha-vīrān'—and also (tathā api) other (anyān) heroic warriors (yodha-vīrān). 'Mayā hatāṁs tvam jahi mā vyathiṣṭhā'—already slain (hatān) by Me (mayā), you (tvam) kill them (jahi), do not (mā) be disturbed (vyathiṣṭhāḥ). 'Yudhyasva jetāsi raṇe sapatnān'—fight (yudhyasva), you will conquer (jetāsi) your enemies (sapatnān) in battle (raṇe). Krishna specifically names the great warriors—Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna—and explains that they are already slain by Time (the cosmic form). Arjuna should simply complete what is already done, without being disturbed. This verse shows that even the mightiest warriors are subject to Time's will.