Shloka 45
मुक्तस्त्वयाहं त्वसमीक्ष्य कर्ण शिरो हूतं यन्न मयार्जुनस्य | समीक्ष्य मां मुड्च रणे त्वमाशु हन्तास्मि शत्रुं तव चात्मनश्ल
sañjaya uvāca |
muktas tvayāhaṃ tv asamīkṣya karṇa śiro hūtaṃ yan na mayārjunasya |
samīkṣya māṃ muñca raṇe tvam āśu hantāsmi śatruṃ tava cātmanaś ca ||
Sañjaya said: “Karna, you released me without due aim; therefore I could not carry off Arjuna’s head as had been intended. Now, after considering carefully, release me again in the battle—quickly and with a true mark—then I shall slay that enemy who is both yours and mine.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses responsibility and precision in action: a powerful effort fails when done without proper attention (asamīkṣya). It also reflects the warrior ethic where success depends on disciplined aim and clear intent, not merely force.
A speaker addresses Karna, saying that Karna released him (as a missile/weapon) without proper aim, so he could not accomplish the intended feat of taking Arjuna’s head. He urges Karna to release him again—this time with careful aim—promising to kill the enemy common to them both.