Shloka 29
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
ततः: कर्णो भृशं क्रुद्धों दृढमादाय कार्मुकम्
tataḥ karṇo bhṛśaṃ kruddho dṛḍham ādāya kārmukam
Sañjaya said: Then Karṇa, inflamed with fierce anger, firmly seized his bow—ready to answer the challenge on the battlefield, where wrath and resolve drive warriors toward decisive, often morally fraught action.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger can rapidly convert into decisive action in war; it implicitly warns that a warrior’s resolve, when fueled by wrath, can intensify violence and narrow ethical reflection, even while appearing as steadfastness.
Sañjaya narrates that Karṇa becomes intensely angry and firmly takes up his bow, signaling immediate readiness to engage or retaliate in the ongoing battle episode.