Shloka 40
यस्य वीर्येण वीर्य ते धार्तराष्ट्रोडवमन्यते । तमद्य पार्थ संग्रामे कर्ण वैकर्तनं॑ जहि,पार्थ! जिसके बलसे दुर्योधन तुम्हारे बल-पराक्रमकी अवहेलना करता है, उस वैकर्तन कर्णको आज तुम युद्धमें मार डालो
yasya vīryeṇa vīrya te dhārtarāṣṭro ’vamanyate | tam adya pārtha saṅgrāme karṇa vaikartanaṃ jahi ||
Dijo Vāyu: «Confiado en la fuerza de ese hombre, el hijo de Dhṛtarāṣṭra se atreve a menospreciar tu valor. Por eso, oh Pārtha, hoy en la batalla, derriba a Karṇa, Vaikartana, el “hijo del cortador”.»
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links ethical order in war to removing the pillar of unjust confidence: Duryodhana’s contempt is fueled by Karṇa’s strength, so defeating Karṇa is urged as both a tactical turning point and a corrective to pride that sustains adharma.
Vāyu addresses Arjuna (Pārtha) on the battlefield, identifying Karṇa as the key support behind Duryodhana’s boldness and urging Arjuna to kill Karṇa that very day in combat.