Shloka 16
कर्णपुत्रवधः (The Fall of Vṛṣasena) — Karṇa Parva, Adhyāya 62
योद्धव्यमद्य पार्थेन फाल्गुनेन त्वया सह । किमर्थ धर्मराजेन युध्यसे भूशरोषित:,“कर्ण! आज तुम्हें कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुनके साथ युद्ध करना है। फिर अत्यन्त रोषमें भरकर धर्मराजके साथ किसलिये जूझ रहे हो?
yoḍḍhavyam adya pārthena phālgunena tvayā saha | kimartha dharmarājena yudhyase bhūśaroṣitaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “Karna, today you are meant to fight with Pārtha—Arjuna, the son of Phalguna. Why then, inflamed with fierce anger, are you engaging in battle with Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and strategic need to direct one’s martial energy toward the rightful opponent and not be driven off-course by uncontrolled anger; wrath can distort judgment and lead to misdirected conflict, even against a figure identified with dharma.
Sañjaya comments on Karna’s conduct on the battlefield: Karna’s principal destined confrontation is with Arjuna, yet he is seen fighting Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja) in a rage. Sañjaya questions this choice, implying a deviation from the expected focus of the day’s combat.