Shloka 1
कर्णवधोत्तरं शल्य-दुर्योधनसंवादः
Aftermath of Karṇa’s Fall: Śalya’s Address to Duryodhana
अ्-#-रा+ अष्टषष्टितमो< ध्याय: युधिष्ठटिरका अर्जुनके प्रति अपमानजनक क्रोधपूर्ण वचन संजय उवाच श्रुत्वा कर्ण कल्यमुदारवीर्य क्रुद्ध: पार्थ: फाल्गुनस्थामितौजा: । धनंजयं वाक्यमुवाच चेद॑ं युधिष्ठिर: कर्णशराभितप्त:
sañjaya uvāca | śrutvā karṇaṃ kalyam udāravīryaṃ kruddhaḥ pārthaḥ phālgunasthāmitaūjāḥ | dhanañjayaṃ vākyam uvāca cedaṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ karṇaśarābhitaptaḥ ||
Sanjaya said: O King, when Yudhiṣṭhira—scorched by Karṇa’s arrows—heard that Karṇa, the noble and mighty hero, was safe, he became angered at Dhanañjaya (Arjuna). In that heat of pain and frustration, Yudhiṣṭhira spoke to Arjuna words charged with contempt and wrath, revealing how even the righteous can be shaken when suffering and battlefield pressure overwhelm restraint.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how pain and battlefield stress can destabilize even a dharma-minded leader, leading to harsh, unethical speech. It implicitly warns that righteousness is tested not only by actions in war but also by self-control and restraint in speech when provoked.
Sanjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Yudhiṣṭhira, wounded by Karṇa’s arrows, hears that Karṇa remains unharmed. Frustrated and angry—apparently feeling Arjuna has not subdued Karṇa—Yudhiṣṭhira turns on Arjuna and begins to speak bitter, insulting words.