Shloka 40
रूक्षा: सुतीक्ष्णाश्न हि पापबुद्धिः सूतात्मजो<यं गतभीर्दुरात्मा । संस्मृत्य सर्व तदिहाद्य पापं जह्याशु कर्ण युधि सव्यसाचिन्
rūkṣāḥ sutīkṣṇāś ca hi pāpabuddhiḥ sūtātmajo 'yaṃ gatabhīr durātmā | saṃsmṛtya sarvaṃ tad ihādya pāpaṃ jahy āśu karṇaṃ yudhi savyasācin ||
Sañjaya dit : «Ce fils de cocher, aux desseins mauvais et à la nature vile, a proféré des paroles rudes, tranchantes comme des lames ; et maintenant, ayant rejeté la peur, il se tient devant toi. Souviens-toi aujourd’hui, ici et maintenant, de toutes ces fautes—et surtout des humiliations infligées à Draupadī dans la cour des Kaurava. Souviens-toi comment ce Karṇa pécheur, nous raillant avec audace, nous traita d’“impuissants comme des enveloppes de sésame vides” et lança maintes insultes cruelles. Gardant tout cela en mémoire, ô Savyasācin, abats promptement Karṇa au combat.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames moral memory as a catalyst for action: recalling past adharma—especially public humiliation and cruel speech—becomes an ethical justification for decisive conduct in war. It highlights how words and dishonor are treated as serious wrongdoing with consequences.
Sanjaya urges Arjuna to remember Karna’s earlier insults and his role in Draupadi’s suffering in the Kaurava court, and on that basis exhorts Arjuna to kill Karna swiftly in the ongoing battle.