Shloka 42
Adhyāya 36: Ghora-yuddha-varṇanam
A Clinical Description of the Intensified Engagement
कर्ण उवाच भवतु भवतु कि विकत्थसे ननु मम तस्य हि युद्धमुद्यतम् । यदि स जयति मामिहाहवे तत इदमस्तु सुकत्थितं तव,कर्णने कहा--रहने दो, रहने दो। क्यों बहुत बड़बड़ा रहे हो। अब तो मेरा और उनका युद्ध उपस्थित हो ही गया है। यदि अर्जुन यहाँ युद्धमें मुझे परास्त कर दें, तब तुम्हारा यह बढ़-बढ़कर बातें करना ठीक और अच्छा समझा जायगा
Karṇa uvāca: bhavatu bhavatu, kiṁ vikatthase? nanu mama tasya hi yuddham udyatam. yadi sa jayati mām ihāhave, tata idam astu sukatthitaṁ tava.
Karna said: “Let it be, let it be—why do you boast so much? In any case, the battle between him and me is now at hand. If he defeats me here in combat, then your loud claims will indeed be justified.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Karna rejects empty boasting and grounds honor in verifiable action: claims about superiority are meaningful only if proven in the actual test of battle.
Amid the imminent Karna–Arjuna confrontation, Karna silences a companion’s excessive bragging, saying the outcome of the duel will decide whether such words deserve credit.