Shloka 29
अर्जुनकर्णसंनिपातवर्णनम् / The Convergence of Arjuna and Karṇa
युध्यमानस्य च शिर: पश्यतां सुदह्दां हृतम् त्वया पुरुषशार्दूल सिंहेनेव यथा रुरो:
yudhyamānasya ca śiraḥ paśyatāṃ suhṛdāṃ hṛtam tvayā puruṣaśārdūla siṃheneva yathā ruroḥ | puruṣasiṃha! yathā siṃho ruka-nāmaka-mṛgasya mastakaṃ kāṭayati, tathā tvaṃ samasta-suhṛdbhiḥ paśyadbhiḥ yudhyamānasya karṇasya śiraḥ dharātale dhṛk-śarīrāt pṛthak kṛtavān—tat kathaṃ sambhūtam ||
ユディシュティラは言った。「人中の虎よ。すべての味方が見守る中、汝は戦い続けるカルナの首を胴から断ち切った—獅子が鹿の首を刎ねるがごとく。人中の獅子よ、かかる業はいかにして成し遂げられたのか。」
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral and emotional shock that accompanies decisive violence in war: even when performed by a righteous warrior, a lethal act invites scrutiny—how it was done, whether it aligned with dharma, and what it means for those who witness it.
After Karṇa is killed in battle, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses the victorious warrior (contextually Arjuna), marveling that Karṇa’s head was severed while he was still fighting, in full view of allies, comparing the act to a lion striking down a deer.