Shloka 34
दुरात्मानं पापवृत्तं नृशंसं दुष्टप्रज्ञं पाण्डवेयेषु नित्यम् । हीनस्वार्थ पाण्डवेयैर्विरो थे हत्वा कर्ण निश्चितार्थों भवाद्य,अतः आज तुम दुरात्मा, पापाचारी, क्रूर, पाण्डवोंके प्रति सदा दुर्भावना रखनेवाले और किसी स्वार्थके बिना ही पाण्डव-विरोधमें तत्पर हुए कर्णका वध करके सफलमनोरथ हो जाओ
durātmānaṃ pāpavṛttaṃ nṛśaṃsaṃ duṣṭaprajñaṃ pāṇḍaveyeṣu nityam | hīnasvārthaṃ pāṇḍaveyair virodhe hatvā karṇaṃ niścitārtho bhavādya, ataḥ āj tum durātmā, pāpācārī, krūra, pāṇḍavoṃke prati sadā durbhāvanā rakhanevāle aur kisī svārthake binā hī pāṇḍava-virodhameṃ tatpara hue karṇakā vadha karke saphalamanoratha ho jāo
Vāyu said: “Karna is a wicked-souled man—sinful in conduct, ruthless, and of perverted judgment—ever hostile toward the sons of Pāṇḍu. Having taken up enmity with the Pāṇḍavas without any worthy personal aim, he stands fixed in that resolve. Therefore, today, by slaying Karna, fulfill your purpose and make your endeavor successful.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames Karna’s persistent hostility and morally flawed disposition as grounds for decisive action in war: when an adversary is steadfast in unjust enmity and harmful intent, the righteous side is urged to act firmly to protect dharma and bring the conflict toward resolution.
Vāyudeva addresses the listener (implicitly a Pāṇḍava ally) and characterizes Karna as continually malicious toward the Pāṇḍavas. He exhorts that Karna should be slain that very day so the intended objective—removing a key enemy champion—may be accomplished.