वासुदेवं च दाशार्ह विजेष्यामि महारथम् | “कर्ण सदा ही यह कहता रहता है कि “मैं युद्धमें एक साथ आये हुए समस्त कुन्तीपुत्रों तथा वसुदेवनन्दन महारथी श्रीकृष्णको भी जीत लूँगा' ।। ६८ $ ।। प्रोत्साहयन् दुरात्मान धार्त॑राष्ट्र सुदुमीतिम्
vāsudevaṃ ca dāśārha vijeṣyāmi mahāratham | protsāhayan durātmānaṃ dhārtarāṣṭraṃ sudurmatim ||
संजय म्हणाला—आणि तो असेही म्हणतो—‘दाशार्ह वासुदेव, त्या महारथीलाही मी जिंकेन.’ अशा गर्वोक्तींनी कर्ण दुरात्मा व कुटिल निश्चय असलेल्या धार्तराष्ट्रपुत्राला रणात विनाशकारी निर्णयांकडे सतत प्रवृत्त करीत राहिला.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how arrogance and reckless boasting, when used to inflame a leader already inclined to wrong counsel, accelerates collective downfall. Ethical failure here is not only in fighting unjustly but also in corrupting judgment through prideful incitement.
Sañjaya reports Karṇa’s repeated claim that he will defeat even Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva), and notes that such words serve to spur Duryodhana (the Dhārtarāṣṭra) onward—despite his destructive mindset—deepening the Kauravas’ commitment to disastrous war decisions.