Shloka 69
वासुदेवं च दाशार्ह विजेष्यामि महारथम् | “कर्ण सदा ही यह कहता रहता है कि “मैं युद्धमें एक साथ आये हुए समस्त कुन्तीपुत्रों तथा वसुदेवनन्दन महारथी श्रीकृष्णको भी जीत लूँगा' ।। ६८ $ ।। प्रोत्साहयन् दुरात्मान धार्त॑राष्ट्र सुदुमीतिम्
vāsudevaṃ ca dāśārha vijeṣyāmi mahāratham | protsāhayan durātmānaṃ dhārtarāṣṭraṃ sudurmatim ||
Sañjaya said: “And I shall defeat Vāsudeva, the Dāśārha, that great chariot-warrior as well.” Thus, with boastful words, Karṇa kept inflaming the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra—evil-souled and of perverse resolve—toward ruinous decisions in the war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how arrogance and reckless boasting, when used to inflame a leader already inclined to wrong counsel, accelerates collective downfall. Ethical failure here is not only in fighting unjustly but also in corrupting judgment through prideful incitement.
Sañjaya reports Karṇa’s repeated claim that he will defeat even Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva), and notes that such words serve to spur Duryodhana (the Dhārtarāṣṭra) onward—despite his destructive mindset—deepening the Kauravas’ commitment to disastrous war decisions.