Shloka 50
Adhyāya 10: Śrutakarmā’s Engagements; Prativindhya–Citra Duel; Drauṇi Advances toward Bhīma
जहि पार्थान् सपाज्चालान् राधेय विजयाय न: । उद्यन्निव सदा भानुस्तमांस्युग्रैगभस्तिभि:,वन्दीजनों तथा ब्राह्मणोंने उस समय पुरुषशिरोमणि कर्णको आशीर्वाद देते हुए कहा --राधापुत्र! तुम कुन्तीके पुत्रोंकोी, उनके सेवकों तथा श्रीकृष्णके साथ महासमरमें जीत लो और हमारी विजयके लिये कुन्तीकुमारोंको पांचालोंसहित मार डालो। ठीक उसी तरह, जैसे सूर्य अपनी उग्र किरणोंद्वारा सदा उदय होते ही अन्धकारका विनाश कर देता है
sañjaya uvāca | jahi pārthān sapāñcālān rādhēya vijayāya naḥ | udyann iva sadā bhānus tamāṁsy ugrair gabhastibhiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “O Rādheya (Karna), for our victory strike down the Pārthas (the sons of Pṛthā/Kuntī) together with the Pāñcālas. Just as the sun, ever rising, destroys darkness with its fierce rays, so should you, in the great battle, dispel our foes and secure triumph for us.” The verse reflects the war-counsel of supporters who frame violent action as a righteous necessity for victory, using the sun’s removal of darkness as a moralizing metaphor for annihilating the enemy.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse shows how wartime exhortation uses moral imagery—light destroying darkness—to justify lethal action as necessary for ‘victory.’ It invites reflection on how ethical language and metaphors can be employed to frame violence as righteous.
Sañjaya reports an exhortation directed at Karna (Rādheya): he is urged to kill the Pāṇḍavas along with their Pāñcāla allies so that the Kaurava side may win, likening Karna’s intended onslaught to the sun’s rays dispelling darkness at dawn.