Shloka 37
Adhyāya 36: Ghora-yuddha-varṇanam
A Clinical Description of the Intensified Engagement
स्मरसि ननु यदा परैह्तः स च धृतराष्ट्रसुतो5पि मोक्षित: । दिनकरसदूृशै: शरोत्तमैर्युधा कुरुषु बहून् विनिहत्य तानरीन्
smarasi nanu yadā parāhṛtaḥ sa ca dhṛtarāṣṭrasuto 'pi mokṣitaḥ | dinakarasadṛśaiḥ śarottamair yudhā kuruṣu bahūn vinihatya tān arīn, karṇa |
「覚えているか。持国（ドリタラーシュトラ）の子が敵にさらわれ、のちに解き放たれたあの折を。戦場において、太陽の光線のごとく燃え立つ最上の矢をもって多くの敵を討ち、王子を捕縛から救い出したのはアルジュナであった、カルナよ。」（シャリヤの狙いは、アルジュナの実証された武勇と、恩を返すべきという道義の重みをカルナに思い起こさせ、これを侮らせぬことにある。）
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Śalya underscores an ethical point through a historical reminder: one should acknowledge proven merit and benefaction. Arjuna’s earlier act of freeing Duryodhana demonstrates both capability and a deed that ought to be remembered with honesty rather than dismissed in pride or rivalry.
In the Karṇa–Śalya dialogue, Śalya needles and admonishes Karṇa by recalling the Ghoṣa-yātrā incident: Duryodhana was seized by enemies (Gandharvas), and Arjuna fought them with brilliant arrows and released him. Śalya uses this to highlight Arjuna’s strength and to unsettle Karṇa’s confidence.