Mahabharata — Karna Parva, Shloka 18
धर्मरहस्योपदेशः
Dharma-rahasya Instruction: Vows, Truth, and Non-injury
संजय उवाच इति ब्रुवति राधेयं मद्राणामी श्वरे नूप । अभ्यवर्तत वै कर्ण क्रोधदीप्तो वृकोदर:
sañjaya uvāca | iti bruvati rādheyaṃ madrāṇām īśvare nṛpa | abhyavartata vai karṇaṃ krodhadīpto vṛkodaraḥ ||
Sanjaya said: O king, while Shalya, the lord of the Madras, was speaking thus to Radheya (Karna), Bhima—Vrikodara—blazing with anger, advanced straight toward Karna.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how provocative speech and wounded pride can rapidly kindle anger, pushing warriors into immediate confrontation. Ethically, it warns that unchecked krodha (anger) narrows judgment and accelerates violence, especially in a dharma-challenged setting like war.
As Shalya, ruler of Madra, is speaking to Karna (Radheya), Bhima (Vrikodara), enraged, advances toward Karna to face him directly, signaling an imminent clash.