Shloka 43
कर्णार्जुनसमागमः — The Karṇa–Arjuna Confrontation
Cosmic Spectatorship and Vows
“पुरुषोत्तम! वीर! पाण्डवोंद्वारा खदेड़े जानेवाले सहस्रों कौरव-सैनिक समरांगणमें तुम्हें ही पुकार रहे हैं! ।। एतच्छुत्वापि राधेयो दुर्योधनवचो महान् । मद्रराजमिदं वाक्यमब्रवीत् प्रहसन्निव
puruṣottama vīra pāṇḍavaiḥ khāditāḥ sahasraśaḥ kaurava-sainikāḥ samarāṅgaṇe tvām eva pukāranti || etac chrutvāpi rādheyo duryodhana-vaco mahān | madrarājam idaṃ vākyam abravīt prahasann iva ||
Dijo Sañjaya: «¡Oh, el mejor de los hombres, oh héroe! Miles de soldados kauravas, rechazados por los Pāṇḍavas, te llaman a ti solo en el campo de batalla». Aun después de oír las palabras de Duryodhana, el gran Rādheya se dirigió al rey de Madra con estas palabras, como si sonriera, mostrando confianza en medio de la crisis.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, morale and leadership become decisive: soldiers seek a single champion when overwhelmed. Ethically, it also frames the Mahābhārata’s tension between personal valor and the righteousness of the cause—Karna’s confidence and loyalty operate within a morally compromised alliance.
Sañjaya reports that Kaurava troops, being pushed back by the Pāṇḍavas, are calling for help from the foremost warrior. After hearing Duryodhana’s words, Karṇa (Rādheya) turns to Śalya, the king of Madra, and begins speaking—apparently smiling—setting up their exchange amid the battlefield crisis.