Shloka 253
कर्णवधोत्तरं शल्य-दुर्योधनसंवादः
Aftermath of Karṇa’s Fall: Śalya’s Address to Duryodhana
स केशवेनोहा[मान: कथं त्वं कर्णाद् भीतो व्यपयातो$सि पार्थ । “कुन्तीनन्दन! तुम्हारा रथ साक्षात् विश्वकर्माका बनाया हुआ है
sa keśavenohamānaḥ kathaṁ tvaṁ karṇād bhīto vyapayāto'si pārtha | kuntīnandana! tavāyaṁ rathaḥ sākṣād viśvakarmaṇā kṛtaḥ, tasya dhure na kaścid nādaḥ śrūyate | tasmin vānara-dhvajā phalati | evaṁ śubha-lakṣaṇe rathe samārūḍhaḥ suvarṇa-jaṭitaṁ khaḍgaṁ catur-hastaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ dhanuḥ gāṇḍīvaṁ gṛhītvā bhagavatā śrīkṛṣṇa-sārathinā sañcālyamāno'pi tvaṁ karṇāt kathaṁ bhīto dhāvasi?
Sañjaya said: “How is it, O Partha, that you—protected and guided by Keshava—have withdrawn in fear from Karna? O son of Kunti, your chariot is said to be fashioned by Vishvakarman himself; its axle makes no sound. The banner of the monkey flies upon it. Mounted on such an auspicious chariot, bearing a gold-inlaid sword and the excellent four-cubit bow Gandiva, and even being driven by Lord Krishna as your charioteer—how could you still be frightened of Karna and retreat?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between external advantages (divine chariot, famed weapons, Krishna’s guidance) and inner steadiness. It implies that a warrior’s dharma requires courage and composure; fear is not removed merely by possessing power, but by aligning one’s mind with duty and right resolve.
Sanjaya reports a pointed question addressed to Arjuna: despite having an extraordinary, auspicious chariot and being driven by Krishna, how could Arjuna retreat in fear from Karna? The line underscores Karna’s formidable presence and frames Arjuna’s withdrawal as surprising given his divine support.