Shloka 593
अलंबलवधः (Alaṃbala-vadhaḥ) / The Slaying of Alaṃbala and the Advance toward Karṇa
अभ्यधावत वेगेन पुन: पुनररिंदम । शत्रुदमन नरेश! कर्ण उन दोनोंकी मृत्युसे शोकमग्न हो फुफकारते हुए महान् सर्पकी भाँति लंबी साँसें खींच रहा था। वह युद्धमें क़रुद्ध हो अपने नेत्रोंसे सात्यकिकी ओर इस प्रकार देख रहा था, मानो वह उन्हें जलाकर भस्म कर देगा। उसने बारंबार वेगपूर्वक सात्यकिपर धावा किया
abhyadhāvat vegena punaḥ punar arindama | śatrudamana nareśa! karṇaḥ ubhayor mṛtyuśokamagnaḥ phūtkṛtya mahāsarpa iva dīrghān niśvāsān muñcan | sa raṇe kruddho netrābhyāṃ sātyakim evaṃ dadarśa yathā taṃ dagdhvā bhasmasāt kariṣyati | sa vegapūrvakaṃ punaḥ punaḥ sātyakau abhyadhāvat |
Sanjaya said: O king, subduer of foes, Karna—overwhelmed by grief at the death of those two—kept hissing and drawing long breaths like a great serpent. Enraged in battle, he fixed his gaze upon Satyaki as though he would burn him to ashes with his eyes. Again and again, with sudden speed, he charged at Satyaki.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how grief can quickly transform into rage and vengeful intent, intensifying violence. It implicitly warns that unchecked emotions—especially sorrow mixed with anger—can eclipse discernment (dharma-viveka) and drive one toward destructive action.
Sanjaya describes Karna’s state after the death of two persons dear or significant to him: he is grief-stricken, hissing like a serpent, and in battle-fury he glares at Satyaki as if to incinerate him, repeatedly charging at him with great speed.