Shloka 54
Aśvatthāman’s Arrow-Screen and the Confrontation with Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रौणि–युधिष्ठिर-संग्रामः)
पुनश्चेदीदृशं॑ वाक््यं मद्रराज वदिष्यसि
punaś ced īdṛśaṃ vākyaṃ madrarāja vadiṣyasi
Karna berkata: “Jika, wahai raja Madra, engkau sekali lagi mengucapkan kata-kata seperti itu, maka engkau mengulangi suatu penghinaan yang melanggar pengendalian diri dan maruah yang dituntut daripada para kesatria di tengah medan perang.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech: repeated harsh or insulting words, especially in a charged setting like war, breach the decorum expected of leaders and warriors and can deepen conflict rather than uphold honor.
In the Karna Parva, Karna addresses Śalya (the king of Madra) directly, warning him not to repeat the same kind of provocative or disparaging remarks—an exchange reflecting tension within the Kaurava camp during the battle.