Shloka 33
Adhyāya 36: Ghora-yuddha-varṇanam
A Clinical Description of the Intensified Engagement
शल्य उवाच विरम विरम कर्ण कत्थना- दतिरभसो&प्यतिवाचमुक्तवान् | क्व च हि नरवरो धनंजय: क्व पुनरहो पुरुषाधमो भवान्
śalya uvāca | virama virama karṇa katthanātirabhaso 'py ativācam uktavān | kva ca hi naravaro dhanaṃjayaḥ kva punar aho puruṣādhamo bhavān ||
Śalya berkata: “Berhenti, berhenti, Karṇa—hentikan omong besar itu. Terbawa gairah yang berlebihan, kau telah mengucapkan kata-kata yang melampaui batas. Sebab di mana Dhanaṃjaya Arjuna, yang terbaik di antara manusia—dan di mana pula engkau, yang terendah di antara manusia?”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns against overconfident, exaggerated speech born of rash excitement. Ethical restraint in words—avoiding boastful overreach—is presented as crucial, especially in a high-stakes context like war where pride can cloud judgment and invite downfall.
Śalya, serving as Karṇa’s charioteer, sharply checks Karṇa’s self-assertion by contrasting him with Arjuna (Dhanaṃjaya). The rebuke functions as psychological pressure and a strategic undermining of Karṇa’s confidence on the battlefield.