Shloka 125
एतत् कृत्वा महत् कर्म हत्वा कर्ण महारथम् । कृतार्थ: सफल: पार्थ सुखी भव नरोत्तम,“पुरुषोत्तम पार्थ! अतः महारथी कर्णको मारकर यह महान् कार्य सम्पन्न करनेके पश्चात् तुम कृतकृत्य, सफल-मनोरथ एवं सुखी हो जाओ”
etat kṛtvā mahat karma hatvā karṇa-mahāratham | kṛtārthaḥ saphalaḥ pārtha sukhī bhava narottama ||
Sañjaya said: “Having accomplished this great deed—having slain Karṇa, the foremost chariot-warrior—be fulfilled in purpose, successful in your aim, and at peace, O Pārtha, best of men.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the slaying of a formidable opponent as the completion of a grave, duty-bound undertaking: once the decisive task is done, the warrior is urged to become kṛtārtha (fulfilled), saphala (successful), and sukhī (at peace). It reflects the Mahābhārata’s tension between necessary action in war and the longing for inner resolution after fulfilling one’s role.
Sañjaya, narrating the battle to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, addresses Arjuna (Pārtha) and declares that by killing Karṇa—the great chariot-warrior—Arjuna has accomplished a major, climactic objective of the war, and should now regard himself as having achieved his aim.