कर्णपुत्रवधः (The Fall of Vṛṣasena) — Karṇa Parva, Adhyāya 62
अपनीतशल्य: सुभृशं हृच्छल्याभिनिपीडित: । सो<ब्रवीदभ्रातरौ राजा माद्रीपुत्रो महारथौ
saṁjaya uvāca |
apanītaśalyaḥ subhṛśaṁ hṛcchalyābhinipīḍitaḥ |
so 'bravīd bhrātarau rājā mādrīputrau mahārathau ||
शरीर से बाण निकाल दिए जाने पर भी हृदय में धँसे अपमान के शल्य से वे अत्यन्त पीड़ित थे। तब राजा ने माद्रीपुत्र दोनों महारथी भाइयों—नकुल और सहदेव—से कहा।
संजय उवाच
The verse contrasts physical injury with inner injury: even when external wounds are treated, the ethical and emotional wound of dishonor can continue to torment a person. It highlights the Mahabharata’s concern with the moral-psychological costs of war and the duty of a king to address such inner turmoil with right speech and conduct.
After missiles are removed from the king’s body, he remains deeply distressed due to a sense of insult. He then turns to address the two Madri-born brothers, Nakula and Sahadeva, both renowned warriors.