Shloka 28
Śalya Appointed as Karṇa’s Sārathi; Discourse on Praise, Blame, and Beneficial Counsel (कर्णस्य शल्यसारथ्यं तथा स्तवनिन्दाविचारः)
अशीत्या मार्गणै: क्रुद्धो बाह्वोरुरसि चार्पयत् । धनुष कट जानेपर कृतवर्माकी दशा टूटे सींगवाले बैलके समान हो गयी। उस समय शिखण्डीने कुपित होकर उसकी दोनों भुजाओं तथा छातीमें अस्सी बाण मारे ।। कृतवर्मा तु संक्रुद्धो मार्गणै: क्षतविक्षत:
aśītyā mārgaṇaiḥ kruddho bāhv-orasi cārpayat | kṛtavarmā tu saṃkruddho mārgaṇaiḥ kṣata-vikṣataḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Enraged, he drove eighty arrows into (the foe’s) two arms and chest. Kṛtavarmā, now thoroughly incensed, was wounded and torn by those shafts. The scene underscores how wrath in battle rapidly escalates violence, turning injury into further retaliation rather than restraint.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger (krodha) in conflict intensifies harm: wounds provoke further fury, and retaliation becomes self-perpetuating. Even within a dharma-framed war, the narrative warns that unchecked wrath drives escalation rather than measured action.
Sañjaya describes a warrior, enraged, striking Kṛtavarmā with eighty arrows in the arms and chest. Kṛtavarmā is left wounded and torn by the shafts, and his own anger rises in response, setting the stage for continued combat.