Shloka 31
दुर्योधनस्य कर्णप्रार्थना — कृपकर्णसंवादः
Duryodhana’s Appeal to Karna — The Kripa–Karna Dialogue
तन्नामृष्यत कौन्तेय: कर्णस्य स्मितमाहवे । युध्यमानेषु वीरेषु पश्यत्सु च समन््ततः,कुन्तीकुमार भीम युद्धस्थलमें कर्णकी उस हँसीको न सह सके। सब ओर युद्ध करते हुए समस्त वीरोंको देखते-देखते बलवान् भीमसेनने कुपित हो सामने आये हुए कर्णकी छातीमें वत्सदन््त नामक बाणोंद्वारा उसी प्रकार चोट पहुँचायी, जैसे महावत महान् गजराजको अंकुशोंद्वारा पीड़ित करता है
tan nāmṛṣyata kaunteyaḥ karṇasya smitam āhave | yudhyamāneṣu vīreṣu paśyatsu ca saman-tataḥ ||
Bhima, putra Kuntī, tak sanggup menahan senyum Karṇa di medan laga. Ketika para kesatria bertempur dan memandang dari segala arah, amarahnya pun menyala.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the ethics of epic warfare, outward signs of contempt (like a smirk) can be as provocative as weapons, triggering anger and immediate retaliation. The verse highlights how pride and insult intensify conflict and how self-control becomes difficult amid public scrutiny and martial honor.
Karna smiles on the battlefield; Bhima (Kaunteya), unable to bear it, becomes enraged and advances to strike Karna in the chest with Vatsadanta-named arrows, compared to a mahout prodding a great elephant with an aṅkuśa.