Shloka 15
काकोपमोपदेशः
The Crow-and-Swan Exemplum as Counsel to Karṇa
अथान्यद् धनुरादाय प्राविध्यत युधिष्ठिरम् । तावन्योन्यं सुसंक्रुद्धौ शस्त्रवर्षाण्यमुज्चताम्
athānyad dhanur ādāya prāvidhyata yudhiṣṭhiram | tāv anyonyaṃ susaṃkruddhau śastravarṣāṇy amuñcatām |
Sañjaya sprach: Dann nahm Duryodhana einen anderen Bogen und traf Yudhiṣṭhira. Daraufhin ließen beide Helden, von wilder Wut entflammt, Waffenregen aufeinander niedergehen und überschütteten sich gegenseitig mit Salven.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how krodha (anger) intensifies conflict: once wrath takes hold, combat escalates into indiscriminate ‘showers of weapons,’ reminding readers that loss of inner restraint can overtake ethical discernment even among great warriors.
In Sañjaya’s battlefield report, Duryodhana takes up another bow and strikes Yudhiṣṭhira; then both fighters, mutually enraged, exchange heavy volleys of weapons against each other.