Shloka 35
कर्णपुत्रवधः (The Fall of Vṛṣasena) — Karṇa Parva, Adhyāya 62
अपनीतशल्य: सुभृशं हृच्छल्याभिनिपीडित: । सो<ब्रवीदभ्रातरौ राजा माद्रीपुत्रो महारथौ,वहाँ उनके शरीरसे बाण निकाल दिये गये तो भी हृदयमें जो अपमानका काँटा गड़ गया था, उससे वे अत्यन्त पीड़ित हो रहे थे। उस समय राजा दोनों भाई माद्रीकुमार महारथी नकुल-सहदेवसे इस प्रकार बोले--
saṁjaya uvāca |
apanītaśalyaḥ subhṛśaṁ hṛcchalyābhinipīḍitaḥ |
so 'bravīd bhrātarau rājā mādrīputrau mahārathau ||
Sañjaya said: Though the barbs had been drawn out from his body, the king was still grievously tormented by the thorn lodged in his heart—the sting of humiliation. In that state, he addressed the two brothers, the mighty chariot-warriors Nakula and Sahadeva, the sons of Madri.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts physical injury with inner injury: even when external wounds are treated, the ethical and emotional wound of dishonor can continue to torment a person. It highlights the Mahabharata’s concern with the moral-psychological costs of war and the duty of a king to address such inner turmoil with right speech and conduct.
After missiles are removed from the king’s body, he remains deeply distressed due to a sense of insult. He then turns to address the two Madri-born brothers, Nakula and Sahadeva, both renowned warriors.