Shloka 38
खड्गजिद्द धनुरास्यं शरदंष्टं तरस्विनम् | दृप्तं पुरुषशार्टूलं जहि कर्ण धनंजय
khaḍgajihvaṃ dhanurāsyaṃ śaradantaṃ tarasvinam | dṛptaṃ puruṣaśārdūlaṃ jahi karṇaṃ dhanaṃjaya, arjuna! |
Dijo Vāyu: «Oh Dhanañjaya Arjuna, derriba a Karṇa. Es como un león entre los hombres: su lengua es espada, su boca abierta es el arco y sus dientes son flechas. Es sumamente veloz y henchido de orgullo. Por tanto, mátalo.»
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames righteous action in war as resolute performance of one’s kṣatriya duty: when a dangerous, pride-driven adversary threatens the moral and strategic order of the battle, hesitation is discouraged and decisive action is urged.
Vāyudeva addresses Arjuna (Dhanañjaya), urging him to kill Karṇa. Karṇa is portrayed through a vivid martial metaphor—sword-tongue, bow-mouth, arrow-teeth—emphasizing his ferocity, speed, and arrogance, and motivating Arjuna toward immediate combat action.