Shloka 25
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
सूतपुत्रस्य संरम्भाद् दीप्तं वपुरजायत । इतनेपर भी कर्ण आधे ही निमेषमें दूसरा धनुष हाथमें लेकर खड़ा हो गया। कुरु, सौवीर तथा सिंधुदेशके वीरोंकी सेनाका विनाश, सब ओर गिरे हुए कवच, ध्वज तथा अस्त्र- शस्त्रोंसे आच्छादित हुई भूमि और प्राणशून्य हाथी, घोड़े एवं रथियोंके शरीरोंकोी सब ओर देखकर सूतपुत्र कर्णका शरीर क्रोधसे उद्दीप्त हो उठा ।। स विस्फार्य महच्चापं कार्तस्वरविभूषितम्
sūtaputrasya saṃrambhād dīptaṃ vapur ajāyata | sa visphārya mahācāpaṃ kārtasvaravibhūṣitam |
Sañjaya said: From the charioteer’s son’s sudden surge of fury, his very body blazed. Even so, in less than half a blink, Karṇa stood up with another bow in his hand. Seeing the ruin of the Kuru, Sauvīra, and Sindhu warriors—ground strewn with fallen armor, banners, and weapons, and the lifeless bodies of elephants, horses, and chariot-fighters on every side—Karna flared up with wrath. Then he drew back his great bow, adorned with gold.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how grief and shock on the battlefield can harden into wrath, pushing a warrior toward retaliatory violence. Ethically, it underscores the tragic momentum of war: once destruction is witnessed, anger can eclipse discernment, intensifying adharma-like excess even under the banner of kṣatriya duty.
Sañjaya describes Karṇa’s reaction after seeing widespread devastation among allied forces (Kuru, Sauvīra, Sindhu). Overcome by fury, Karṇa’s body is said to blaze, and he draws his great, gold-adorned bow, preparing to re-enter combat with heightened aggression.