Shloka 58
इत्येवमुक्त्वार्जुन एकवीर: क्षिप्रं रिपुघ्न: क्षतजोपमाक्ष: । भीम॑ मुमुक्षु: समरे प्रयातः कर्णस्य कायाच्च शिरो जिहीर्षु:
sañjaya uvāca | ityevam uktvārjuna ekavīraḥ kṣipraṁ ripughnaḥ kṣatajopamākṣaḥ | bhīmaṁ mumukṣuḥ samare prayātaḥ karṇasya kāyāc ca śiro jihīrṣuḥ ||
Sañjaya dijo: Dicho esto, Arjuna —héroe sin par, presto a obrar, matador de enemigos, con los ojos enrojecidos como sangre por la ira— partió de inmediato al campo de batalla, decidido a librar a Bhīma del peligro y resuelto a separar la cabeza de Karṇa de su cuerpo.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its stark form: swift action to protect one’s comrade and to neutralize a dangerous opponent. It also shows how intense emotion (wrath) can accompany duty in war, creating an ethical tension between righteous purpose (rescue) and violent means (beheading).
After making a declaration (in the preceding context), Arjuna immediately advances into the battle. His stated aims are twofold: to free Bhīma from danger and to kill Karṇa decisively by severing his head.