Shloka 45
Adhyāya 36: Ghora-yuddha-varṇanam
A Clinical Description of the Intensified Engagement
ततः प्रायात् प्रीतिमान् वै रथेन वैयाप्रेण श्वेतयुजाथ कर्ण: । स चालोक्य ध्वजिनीं पाण्डवानां धनंजयं त्वरया पर्यपृच्छत्,तदनन्तर व्याप्रचर्मसे आच्छादित और श्वेत अश्वोंसे युक्त उस रथके द्वारा कर्ण बड़ी प्रसन्नताके साथ प्रस्थित हुआ। उसने सामने ही पाण्डवोंकी सेनाको खड़ी देख बड़ी उतावलीके साथ धनंजयका पता पूछा
tataḥ prāyāt prītimān vai rathena vaiyāpreṇa śvetayujātha karṇaḥ | sa cālokya dhvajinīṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ dhanañjayaṃ tvarayā paryapṛcchat ||
ನಂತರ ಶ್ವೇತಾಶ್ವಗಳಿಂದ ಯುಕ್ತವಾದ, ವೇಗವಂತ ಆ ರಥದಲ್ಲಿ ಕರ್ಣನು ಹರ್ಷಭರಿತನಾಗಿ ಹೊರಟನು. ಎದುರಿಗೆ ಪಾಂಡವರ ಧ್ವಜಿನಿಯನ್ನು ಕಂಡು, ಅವನು ತ್ವರೆಯಿಂದ ಧನಂಜಯನ (ಅರ್ಜುನನ) ಇರುವಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ವಿಚಾರಿಸಿದನು।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of meeting one’s principal opponent directly, seeking honor through open confrontation. At the same time, it sits within the Mahābhārata’s ethical tension: personal valor and rivalry unfold inside a devastating civil war, where ‘duty’ and ‘desire for victory’ can blur.
Sañjaya narrates that Karṇa departs joyfully in a swift chariot drawn by white horses. On seeing the Pāṇḍava forces arrayed before him, he urgently asks where Arjuna (Dhanañjaya) is—signaling his intent to engage him in battle.