Shloka 41
Adhyāya 36: Ghora-yuddha-varṇanam
A Clinical Description of the Intensified Engagement
संजय उवाच इति बहु परुष॑ प्रभाषति प्रमनसि मद्रपतौ रिपुस्तवम् । भृशमभिरुषित: परंतप: कुरुपृतनापतिराह मद्रपम्,संजयने कहा--राजन्! जब महामना मद्रराज शल्य इस प्रकार शत्रुकी प्रशंसासे सम्बन्ध रखनेवाली बहुत-सी कड़वी बातें सुनाने लगे, तब कौरव-सेनापति शत्रुसंतापी कर्ण अत्यन्त क्रोधसे जल उठा और शल्यसे बोला
sañjaya uvāca — iti bahu paruṣaṃ prabhāṣati pramanasi madrapatau ripu-stavam | bhṛśam abhiruṣitaḥ paraṃtapaḥ kuru-pṛtanā-patir āha madrapam ||
Sañjaya said: When the noble king of Madra, Śalya, spoke many harsh words—words that amounted to praising your enemy—Karna, the scorcher of foes and commander of the Kuru host, flared up in intense anger and addressed the king of Madra.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Harsh, provocative speech—especially when it praises the opposing side—can fracture solidarity and ignite anger. The verse highlights the ethical weight of words in leadership contexts: speech that undermines morale in a crisis can become a cause of further harm.
Sañjaya reports that Śalya, the king of Madra, speaks many bitter remarks that effectively praise the enemy. Hearing this, Karna—now commander of the Kuru forces—becomes intensely angry and begins to address Śalya in response.