Shloka 16
जये स्याद् विपुला कीर्तिर्धुव: स्वर्ग: पराजये । वृषसेनश्व राधेय संक्रुद्धस्तनयस्तव
jaye syād vipulā kīrtir dhruvaḥ svargaḥ parājaye | vṛṣasenaś ca rādheya saṅkruddhas tanayas tava ||
Sañjaya said: “If there is victory, there will be abundant fame; if there is defeat, heaven is assured. And Vṛṣasena too—your son—together with Rādheya (Karna), has become inflamed with wrath.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse expresses a kṣatriya-warrior ethic: victory brings lasting renown, while death/defeat in righteous battle is framed as leading to heaven—encouraging fearlessness and commitment to duty despite risk.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra the battlefield mood: Karna (Rādheya) and Karna’s son Vṛṣasena are roused to anger, and the stakes are cast in terms of either glory through victory or heavenly reward through defeat.