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 ||
Sañjaya sprach: Yudhiṣṭhira, vom Zorn entbrannt, konnte diese Kränkung nicht ertragen. Mit vor Wut geröteten Augen warf er den zerhauenen Bogen fort, ergriff einen anderen und, an der Spitze des Heeres stehend, hieb er Duryodhanas Banner nieder und zerschnitt auch dessen Bogen.
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.