Shloka 14
देवसत्रे मृत्युनिरोधः, पूर्वेन्द्राणां मानुषावतरणम्, द्रौपदी-वरकथनम्
Suspension of Death at the Devasatra; Former Indras’ Human Descent; Draupadī’s Boon Etiology
ततोडअर्जुनस्य भुजयोर्वीर्यमप्रतिमं भुवि । ज्ञात्वा वैकर्तनः कर्ण: संरब्ध: समयोधयत्
tato 'rjunasya bhujayor vīryam apratimaṃ bhuvi | jñātvā vaikartanaḥ karṇaḥ saṃrabdhaḥ samayodhayat ||
അപ്പോൾ ഭൂമിയിൽ അർജുനന്റെ ഭുജവീര്യത്തിന് തുല്യം ഇല്ലെന്ന് അറിഞ്ഞ സൂര്യപുത്രൻ വൈകർത്തനൻ കർണ്ണൻ ക്രോധത്തിൽ ജ്വലിച്ച് ദൃഢമായി അവനോട് യുദ്ധം തുടങ്ങി।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores a moral contrast: recognizing another’s superior prowess can lead either to humility and self-mastery or to anger and competitive escalation. Here, Karṇa’s reaction is rage-driven engagement, illustrating how pride and envy can intensify conflict and test dharmic restraint in battle.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Karṇa, after realizing Arjuna’s unmatched arm-strength on earth, becomes enraged and fights him with renewed intensity, signaling a heightened phase of their confrontation.