Shloka 32
अर्जुनकर्णसंनिपातवर्णनम् / The Convergence of Arjuna and Karṇa
यः सर्वतः पर्यपतत्त्वदर्थे सदार्चितो गर्वित: सूतपुत्र: । स शूरमानी समरे समेत्य कच्चित्त्वया निहत: संयुगेडसौ
yaḥ sarvataḥ paryapatat tvad-arthe sadārcito garvitaḥ sūta-putraḥ | sa śūra-mānī samare sametya kaccit tvayā nihataḥ saṃyuge 'sau ||
ユディシュティラは言った。「常に崇められ、驕りに膨れ上がった御者の子——ただ汝を倒すことのみを目的として、四方から汝へと突進してきた者よ。戦場で彼と相まみえたとき、自らを勇士と称したそのカルナを、汝は戦のただ中で真に討ち取ったのか。」
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how social honor and martial reputation can inflate pride, yet in dharma-driven war even the most celebrated warrior must face accountability and mortality. It also shows Yudhiṣṭhira’s ethical anxiety—seeking certainty about a grave act (the killing of Karṇa) rather than celebrating it.
Yudhiṣṭhira questions a warrior (contextually, the Pāṇḍava side) about whether Karṇa—described as the proud, ever-honored ‘sūtaputra’ who repeatedly attacked—has been killed after being met directly in battle.