Shloka 12
Adhyāya 36: Ghora-yuddha-varṇanam
A Clinical Description of the Intensified Engagement
स शल्यमाभाष्य जगाद वाक्यं पार्थस्य कर्मातिशयं विचिन्त्य । मानेन दर्पेण विदह्ममान: क्रोधेन दीप्यन्निव नि:श्वसंश्ष,नरेश्वर! तदनन्तर प्रकाशमान सूर्य और अग्निके समान तेजस्वी, शत्रुवीरोंका संहार करनेमें समर्थ एवं रथपर बैठा हुआ रथिश्रेष्ठ कर्ण यह देखकर कि भीष्म और द्रोणाचार्यके पराक्रमका लोप हो गया, अर्जुनके अलौकिक कर्मका चिन्तन करके अभिमान और दर्पसे दग्ध हो उठा तथा क्रोधसे चलता हुआ-सा लंबी-लंबी साँस खींचने लगा। उस समय उसने शल्यको सम्बोधित करके कहा--
sa śalyam ābhāṣya jagāda vākyaṃ pārthasya karmātiśayaṃ vicintya | mānena darpeṇa vidhakṣyamānaḥ krodhena dīpyann iva niḥśvasan naraśreṣṭha | tad-anantaraṃ prakāśamāna-sūryāgni-samāna-tejasvī śatru-vīra-saṃhāraṇe samarthaś ca ratha-stho rathiśreṣṭhaḥ karṇaḥ etad dṛṣṭvā yathā bhīṣma-droṇayoḥ parākramasya lopo jātaḥ, arjunasya alaukika-karmaṇaḥ cintanaṃ kṛtvā abhimāna-darpa-dagdhaḥ krodhāt calann iva dīrgha-dīrghaṃ niḥśvāsaṃ cakāra | tadā sa śalyaṃ sambodhya uvāca —
Sañjaya said: Having addressed Śalya, Karṇa spoke—his mind fixed on the extraordinary prowess of Pārtha (Arjuna). Scorched by pride and arrogance, and blazing with anger, he breathed hard like a fire fanned by wind. Then that foremost of charioteers—radiant like the sun and fire, seated upon his chariot and capable of destroying heroic foes—seeing that the might of Bhīṣma and Droṇa had waned, reflected on Arjuna’s superhuman deeds. Consumed by wounded self-regard, he drew long, heavy breaths and, turning to Śalya, began to speak.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how pride (māna, darpa) and anger (krodha) distort judgment in conflict: even a great warrior, when consumed by wounded ego, becomes inwardly 'burned' and agitated. Ethically, it cautions that inner discipline is as decisive as outer strength.
Sañjaya describes Karṇa on the battlefield: seeing the earlier champions Bhīṣma and Droṇa no longer dominating, Karṇa broods over Arjuna’s exceptional feats, becomes inflamed with pride and wrath, breathes heavily, and then addresses his charioteer Śalya to speak.