Shloka 143
Aśvatthāman’s Arrow-Screen and the Confrontation with Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रौणि–युधिष्ठिर-संग्रामः)
भीरूणां त्रासजननं शल्य हर्षकरं मम । अर्जुनके हाथमें गाण्डीव धनुष और श्रीकृष्णके हाथमें सुदर्शन चक्र है। एक कपिध्वज है तो दूसरा गरुड़ध्वज। शल्य! ये सब वस्तुएँ कायरोंको भय देनेवाली हैं; परंतु मेरा हर्ष बढ़ाती हैं
bhīrūṇāṃ trāsajananaṃ śalya harṣakaraṃ mama | arjunake hastam̐e gāṇḍīva-dhanuṣaṃ śrīkṛṣṇasya hastam̐e sudarśana-cakram | ekaḥ kapidhvajaḥ, dvitīyo garuḍadhvajaḥ | śalya, etāni sarvāṇi vastūni kāyarān bhāyayanti; mama tu harṣaṃ vardhayanti ||
Karna berkata: “Wahai Śalya, apa yang menakutkan hati orang pengecut menjadi sumber kegirangan bagiku. Di tangan Arjuna ada busur Gāṇḍīva, dan di tangan Śrī Kṛṣṇa ada cakra Sudarśana. Yang seorang mengibarkan panji bertanda Hanumān, yang seorang lagi panji bertanda Garuḍa. Śalya, tanda-tanda ini menggentarkan para pengecut—namun hanya menambah bara semangatku.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts cowardice and courage: the same formidable signs that intimidate the fearful can inspire the resolute. It highlights how inner disposition—confidence, pride, and warrior ethos—shapes one’s response to danger.
Karna addresses Shalya (his charioteer) before or during battle, pointing to Arjuna’s and Kṛṣṇa’s renowned weapons and banners. He declares that these celebrated emblems, though terrifying to the timid, only heighten his own excitement and determination to fight.