Shloka 38
दुर्योधनस्य कर्णप्रार्थना — कृपकर्णसंवादः
Duryodhana’s Appeal to Karna — The Kripa–Karna Dialogue
ततो<चिन्त्य महाबाहु: कर्णकार्मुकनि:सृतान् । समाश्लिष्यदसम्शभ्रान्त: सूतपुत्रं वृकोदर:,महाबाहु भीमसेन कर्णके धनुषसे छूटे हुए उन बाणोंकी कोई परवा न करके बिना किसी घबराहटके सूतपुत्रके इतने समीप पहुँच गये, मानो उससे सटे जा रहे हों
tato 'cintya mahābāhuḥ karṇakārmuka-niḥsṛtān | samāśliṣyad asaṁbhrāntaḥ sūtaputraṁ vṛkodaraḥ ||
Then mighty-armed Bhīma (Vṛkodara), giving no thought to the arrows released from Karṇa’s bow, advanced without the least agitation and closed in upon the charioteer’s son, as though he would clasp him in a grapple. The verse highlights fearless resolve in battle—Bhīma’s steadiness of mind amid danger and his direct, personal challenge to Karṇa.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Fearlessness and mental steadiness (asaṁbhrānti) are portrayed as decisive virtues in righteous combat: Bhīma does not let the threat of arrows disturb his resolve, embodying the warrior’s duty to act without panic when confronting danger.
During the battle in Droṇa Parva, Karṇa shoots arrows from his bow, but Bhīma disregards them and rushes in close to Karṇa, as if to seize him in a clinch, intensifying the duel from missile exchange toward close combat.