Shloka 13
काकोपमोपदेशः
The Crow-and-Swan Exemplum as Counsel to Karṇa
त॑ नामृष्यत संक्रुद्धों हवमानं युधिष्ठिर: । अपविध्य धनुश्कछिन्न॑ क्रोधसंरक्तलोचन:
taṁ nāmṛṣyata saṅkruddho havamānaṁ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | apavidhya dhanuś chinnaṁ krodha-saṁrakta-locanaḥ ||
যুধিষ্ঠির সেই অপমান সহ্য করতে পারলেন না। ক্রোধে তিনি জ্বলে উঠলেন; রোষে তাঁর চোখ লাল হয়ে গেল। ভাঙা ধনু ছুঁড়ে ফেলে তিনি আরেকটি ধনু হাতে নিলেন।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how even a dharmic king like Yudhiṣṭhira can be driven by insult into wrath, showing the ethical tension in war: honor and duty may demand action, yet anger is a dangerous motivator that tests self-mastery.
After being taunted, Yudhiṣṭhira cannot bear the affront. He throws away his broken bow, takes another, and retaliates by cutting down Duryodhana’s banner and bow at the army’s front, signaling a forceful response in the battle.