Shloka 5
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 54 — Missile-Exchange and Tactical Redirection
Arjuna, Aśvatthāman, Karṇa
गजो गजेनेव मया दुरात्मा योद्धुं समाकाड्क्षति सूतपुत्र: । तमेव मां प्रापय राजपुत्र दुर्योधनापाश्रयजातदर्पम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
gajo gajen eva mayā durātmā yoddhuṃ samākāṅkṣati sūtaputraḥ |
tam eva māṃ prāpaya rājaputra duryodhanāpāśrayajātadarpaṃ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Comme un éléphant qui cherche à se heurter à un éléphant, ce fils de cocher, au cœur mauvais, brûle de combattre contre moi. Ô prince, conduis-moi droit vers lui—vers Karṇa, enflé d’orgueil né de la protection de Duryodhana.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how pride can be intensified by external support and patronage: Karṇa is portrayed as emboldened through reliance on Duryodhana, suggesting an ethical warning that borrowed power can inflate arrogance and drive conflict.
The speaker describes Karṇa as eager to fight, comparing the impending clash to elephant-versus-elephant combat. He instructs a prince to take him directly to Karṇa first, emphasizing Karṇa’s confidence and pride rooted in Duryodhana’s backing.