Shloka 203
रथस्थमतिसंरब्धं युधिष्ठिरवधे धृतम् । तब शल्यने हँसकर युधिष्ठिरके वधका निश्चय किये अत्यन्त क्रोधमें भरकर रथपर बैठे हुए कर्णसे पुन: इस प्रकार कहा--
rathastham atisaṃrabdhaṃ yudhiṣṭhiravadhe dhṛtam | tataḥ śalyena haṃsakaḥ yudhiṣṭhiravadhasya niścayaṃ kṛtvā atyanta-krodhaṃ bharan rathopaviṣṭena karṇena punaḥ evam uktam — saṃjaya uvāca ||
Sanjaya berkata: Melihat Karna duduk di atas keretanya, pikirannya berkobar dan tekadnya bulat untuk membunuh Yudhisthira, Shalya tertawa. Setelah menetapkan dalam hati tentang kematian Yudhisthira, ia kembali berbicara kepada Karna yang dipenuhi amarah besar, demikianlah katanya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how intense anger and derisive provocation can harden one’s intent toward violence. In the Mahabharata’s ethical frame, such passions cloud discernment (viveka) and can push a warrior beyond measured dharma into destructive fixation.
Sanjaya describes Karna on his chariot, furious and determined to kill Yudhishthira. Shalya, acting as Karna’s charioteer, laughs and then speaks again to Karna—setting up the next exchange that influences Karna’s mindset and actions in the battle.