Shloka 10
भीष्मकृतः पाण्डवपक्ष-महारथ-प्रशंसा
Bhishma’s appraisal of Pandava-aligned chariot-warriors
एतच्छुत्वा तु राधेय: क्रोधादुत्फाल्य लोचने । उवाच भीष्म राधेयस्तुदन् वाग्भि: प्रतोदवत्,यह सुनकर राधानन्दन कर्ण क्रोधसे आँखें फाड़-फाड़कर देखने लगा और अपने वचनरूपी चाबुकसे पीड़ा देता हुआ भीष्मसे बोला--
etac chrutvā tu rādheyaḥ krodhād utphālya locane | uvāca bhīṣma rādheyas tudan vāgbhiḥ pratodavat ||
Al oírlo, Radheya (Karna), encendido de ira, abrió desmesuradamente los ojos y clavó la mirada con furia. Entonces Karna se dirigió a Bhīṣma, azotándolo con palabras como con un aguijón: un hablar no para buscar verdad ni concordia, sino para herir y provocar en el clima tenso que precede a la guerra.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech: anger can turn words into weapons. In the Mahabharata’s moral landscape, harsh speech (even before physical battle) escalates conflict and clouds discernment, showing how inner passions can become instruments of harm.
Karna, having heard Bhishma’s preceding statement, reacts with visible fury—eyes widened—and then speaks to Bhishma in a stinging, goading manner. The scene signals rising tensions among the Kaurava leaders on the eve of war.