Mahabharata — Karna Parva, Shloka 36
अर्जुनकर्णसंनिपातवर्णनम् / The Convergence of Arjuna and Karṇa
योडसौ सदा श्लाघते राजमध्ये दुर्योधन हर्षयन् दर्पपूर्ण: । अहं हन्ता फाल्गुनस्थेति मोहात् कच्चिद्वचस्तस्य न वै तथा तत्
yo 'sau sadā ślāghate rājamadhye duryodhanaṁ harṣayan darpapūrṇaḥ | ahaṁ hantā phālgunas teti mohāt kaccid vacas tasya na vai tathā tat ||
Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „Jener Mann, stets von Hochmut erfüllt, pflegte inmitten der Könige—zur Freude Duryodhanas—zu prahlen: ‚In meiner Verblendung kann ich Phālguna (Arjuna) erschlagen.‘ Hat sich sein Wort nun als falsch erwiesen und ist ins Leere gefallen?“
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of darpa (arrogant pride) and moha (delusion): public boasting to win favor in a royal court is empty when not grounded in truth and capability, and it collapses under the test of action and consequence.
Yudhiṣṭhira recalls how a warrior (implied opponent) repeatedly bragged before assembled kings—encouraging Duryodhana—that he could kill Arjuna. He now asks whether that boast has been proven false in the unfolding events of the battle.