Shloka 27
इतीदमुक्त्वा विससर्ज तं शरं प्रयत्नतो वर्षमणाभिपूजितम् । हतो$सि वै फाल्गुन इत्यधिक्षिप- न्रुवाच चोच्चैरगिरिमूर्जितां वृष:
ity idam uktvā visasarja taṁ śaraṁ prayatnato varṣamāṇābhipūjitam | hato ’si vai phālguna ity adhikṣipan rurova coccair agirim ūrjitāṁ vṛṣaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Having spoken thus, Karṇa—who for years had revered that missile with devoted care—released the arrow with deliberate effort toward his foe. Taunting him aloud, he cried in a powerful voice, “Phālguna (Arjuna), you are surely slain!”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how long-cultivated power and devotion can be directed toward destructive ends in war, and how speech (taunts, boasts) becomes an ethical instrument—used to intimidate and destabilize the opponent. It invites reflection on restraint (vāg-dharma) even amid kṣatriya conflict.
After speaking, Karṇa releases a specially revered arrow with full effort at Arjuna and loudly taunts him, declaring that Arjuna is surely slain—signaling Karṇa’s confidence and the escalation of the duel.