Shloka 33
Adhyāya 36: Ghora-yuddha-varṇanam
A Clinical Description of the Intensified Engagement
शल्य उवाच विरम विरम कर्ण कत्थना- दतिरभसो&प्यतिवाचमुक्तवान् | क्व च हि नरवरो धनंजय: क्व पुनरहो पुरुषाधमो भवान्,शल्यने कहा--कर्ण! बस, अब बढ़-बढ़कर बातें बनाना बंद करो, बंद करो। तुम अधिक जोशमें आकर अपनी शक्तिसे बहुत बड़ी बात कह गये। भला, कहाँ नरश्रेष्ठ अर्जुन और कहाँ मनुष्योंमें अधम तुम?
śalya uvāca | virama virama karṇa katthanātirabhaso 'py ativācam uktavān | kva ca hi naravaro dhanaṃjayaḥ kva punar aho puruṣādhamo bhavān ||
قال شَلْيَةُ: «كُفَّ، كُفَّ يا كَرْنَةُ—دعْ عنك هذا التبجّح. لقد حملك فرطُ الحماسة على أن تنطق بكلامٍ يتجاوز الحدّ. فأين دَهنَنْجَيا أرجونا، خيرُ الرجال—وأين أنت، يا أدنى الرجال؟»
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns against overconfident, exaggerated speech born of rash excitement. Ethical restraint in words—avoiding boastful overreach—is presented as crucial, especially in a high-stakes context like war where pride can cloud judgment and invite downfall.
Śalya, serving as Karṇa’s charioteer, sharply checks Karṇa’s self-assertion by contrasting him with Arjuna (Dhanaṃjaya). The rebuke functions as psychological pressure and a strategic undermining of Karṇa’s confidence on the battlefield.