Shloka 203
कर्णपुत्रवधः (The Fall of Vṛṣasena) — Karṇa Parva, Adhyāya 62
रथस्थमतिसंरब्धं युधिष्ठिरवधे धृतम् । तब शल्यने हँसकर युधिष्ठिरके वधका निश्चय किये अत्यन्त क्रोधमें भरकर रथपर बैठे हुए कर्णसे पुन: इस प्रकार कहा--
rathastham atisaṃrabdhaṃ yudhiṣṭhiravadhe dhṛtam | tataḥ śalyena haṃsakaḥ yudhiṣṭhiravadhasya niścayaṃ kṛtvā atyanta-krodhaṃ bharan rathopaviṣṭena karṇena punaḥ evam uktam — saṃjaya uvāca ||
Sanjaya said: Seeing Karna seated upon his chariot, fiercely agitated and firmly resolved to slay Yudhishthira, Shalya—after laughing and settling in his mind the matter of Yudhishthira’s death—spoke once more to Karna in this manner, while Karna sat on the chariot filled with extreme wrath. The moment reveals how pride, mockery, and anger can inflame a warrior’s resolve, shaping choices in war that test the bounds of dharma.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how intense anger and derisive provocation can harden one’s intent toward violence. In the Mahabharata’s ethical frame, such passions cloud discernment (viveka) and can push a warrior beyond measured dharma into destructive fixation.
Sanjaya describes Karna on his chariot, furious and determined to kill Yudhishthira. Shalya, acting as Karna’s charioteer, laughs and then speaks again to Karna—setting up the next exchange that influences Karna’s mindset and actions in the battle.