कल्माषदण्डा गोविन्द विमला रथपद्धक्तय: । यूपा: समुपकल्पन्तामस्मिन् यज्ञे जनार्दन
kalmāṣadaṇḍā govinda vimalā rathapaddhaktayaḥ | yūpāḥ samupakalpantām asmin yajñe janārdana ||
ಕರ್ಣನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—“ಗೋವಿಂದ, ಜನಾರ್ದನ! ಈ ಯಜ್ಞಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಕಲ್ಮಷರಹಿತವಾಗಿ ಸಿದ್ಧಗೊಂಡ ರಥಪಥಗಳು ಕ್ರಮವಾಗಿ ಅಣಿಗೊಳ್ಳಲಿ; ಯೂಪಗಳೂ ಸಿದ್ಧವಾಗಲಿ.”
कर्ण उवाच
The verse highlights how moral agents can frame violent action within the language of sacred duty: by calling war a ‘yajña,’ Karna presents preparation for battle as a solemn, rule-governed undertaking, raising questions about how rhetoric and ritual imagery can be used to claim righteousness and inevitability.
Karna addresses Kṛṣṇa (Govinda/Janārdana) and speaks of making preparations—invoking chariot-tracks and sacrificial posts—while metaphorically treating the impending conflict as a sacrificial rite, signaling readiness for the decisive confrontation.