Shloka 8
काकोपमोपदेशः
The Crow-and-Swan Exemplum as Counsel to Karṇa
प्रियमाणातपत्रेण राजा राजति दंशित: । सारी सेनाओंपर दृष्टिपात करके क्रोधसे उसकी आँखें घूमने लगीं। उस समय युद्धस्थलमें धर्मपुत्र कुन्तीनन्दन युधिष्ठिर वज्रधारी इन्द्रके समान अपनी दिव्य कान्तिसे प्रकाशित होते हुए सेनाके बीचमें खड़े थे। भारत! उन धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरको देखकर दुर्योधनने तुरंत अपने सारथिसे कहा--'सारथे! चलो
priyamāṇātapatreṇa rājā rājati daṁśitaḥ | sūtaḥ śnodito rājñā rājñaḥ syandanam uttamam ||
Sañjaya said: The king, stung by anger, shone forth beneath his beloved royal parasol. Then, urged on by the king, the charioteer set the king’s excellent chariot in motion.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how royal power and outward splendor (parasol, chariot) can intensify in moments of provocation; ethically, it points to the danger of anger-driven action—commanding swift movement into conflict under the impulse of being ‘stung’.
Sañjaya describes the king (contextually Duryodhana) flaring up and appearing resplendent under the royal parasol; he orders his charioteer, who then drives the king’s excellent chariot forward toward the next engagement.