Shloka 16
जहि कर्ण महाबाहो नमुचिं वृत्रहा यथा । श्रेयस्ते5स्तु सदा पार्थ युद्धे जयमवाप्नुहि
sañjaya uvāca | jahi karṇa mahābāho namuciṁ vṛtrahā yathā | śreyas te 'stu sadā pārtha yuddhe jayam avāpnuhi ||
संजय बोले— महाबाहु! कर्ण को उसी प्रकार मारो, जैसे वृत्रहा इन्द्र ने नमुचि का वध किया था। हे पार्थ, तुम्हारा सदा कल्याण हो; युद्ध में विजय प्राप्त करो।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a mythic exemplar (Indra’s slaying of Namuci) to legitimize decisive action in a righteous battle: when duty demands, the warrior should act without hesitation, trusting in auspicious support and aiming at victory aligned with dharma.
Sañjaya delivers an exhortation and blessing: he urges the warrior to kill Karṇa by invoking the precedent of Indra defeating Namuci, and he pronounces a benediction that Pārtha (Arjuna) will attain victory in the ongoing Kurukṣetra war.