Shloka 17
Kṛpa’s Archery Display; Śikhaṇḍin Checked; Suketu Slain; Dhṛṣṭadyumna–Kṛtavarmā Clash (कृपशौर्य–पार्षतहार्दिक्ययुद्धम्)
त्रिशूलमाश्रित्य सुतीक्षणधारं सर्वाणि गात्राणि विघर्षसि त्वम् । सुतीक्षणधारोपमकर्म णा त्वं युयुत्ससे यो<र्जुनेनाद्य कर्ण,“कर्ण! अर्जुनका पराक्रम अत्यन्त तीखी धारवाले त्रिशूलके समान है। उन्हीं अर्जुनके साथ आज जो तुम युद्ध करना चाहते हो, वह दूसरे शब्दोंमें यों है कि तुम पैनी धारवाले त्रिशूलको लेकर उसीसे अपने सारे अंगोंको रगड़ना या खुजलाना चाहते हो
triśūlam āśritya sutīkṣṇadhāraṁ sarvāṇi gātrāṇi vigharṣasi tvam | sutīkṣṇadhāropamakarmaṇā tvaṁ yuyutsase yo 'rjunenādya karṇa ||
Sanjaya said: O Karna, to wish today to fight Arjuna is like taking up a razor-edged trident and scraping all your limbs with it—so perilous is the deed you undertake, like the keen edge of that trident.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a vivid simile to stress prudent discernment in warfare: choosing to confront a vastly formidable opponent is like scraping one’s own body with a razor-edged trident—an act that invites self-destruction. It highlights the ethical weight of counsel and the need to measure one’s undertaking against likely consequences.
Sañjaya addresses Karṇa and warns him about the danger of engaging Arjuna. By comparing Arjuna’s prowess to a keen-edged trident, he implies that Karṇa’s wish to fight Arjuna is tantamount to deliberately harming himself.