तान् प्रद्रुतान् कुरून् दृष्टवा कर्ण: शस्त्रभृतां वर: । संचिन्तयित्वा पार्थस्य वधे दश्ने मन:श्वसन्,शस्त्रधारियोंमें श्रेष्ठ कर्णने कौरव-सैनिकोंको भागते देख खूब सोच-विचारकर लंबी साँस लेते हुए मन-ही-मन अर्जुनके वधका निश्चय किया
tān pradrutān kurūn dṛṣṭvā karṇaḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | saṃcintayitvā pārthasya vadhe dadhne manaḥ śvasan ||
ಓಡಿಹೋಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಕುರುಗಳನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ, ಶಸ್ತ್ರಧಾರಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠನಾದ ಕರ್ಣನು ಆಳವಾಗಿ ಚಿಂತಿಸಿ, ದೀರ್ಘ ನಿಶ್ವಾಸ ಬಿಟ್ಟು, ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲೇ ಪಾರ್ಥ (ಅರ್ಜುನ) ವಧದ ಸಂಕಲ್ಪವನ್ನು ಕಟ್ಟಿಕೊಂಡನು.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how battlefield collapse tests leadership: Karṇa responds to the Kuru panic by concentrating on a single decisive objective—Arjuna’s death. Ethically, it shows the tension between kṣatriya valor and the narrowing of moral vision when victory is pursued through personal rivalry and desperate strategy.
Sañjaya reports that the Kuru troops are fleeing. Seeing this, Karṇa—renowned among warriors—thinks intensely and, with a long breath indicating strain and determination, resolves inwardly to kill Arjuna (Pārtha) to turn the battle in the Kauravas’ favor.