Shloka 18
धर्मरहस्योपदेशः
Dharma-rahasya Instruction: Vows, Truth, and Non-injury
संजय उवाच इति ब्रुवति राधेयं मद्राणामी श्वरे नूप । अभ्यवर्तत वै कर्ण क्रोधदीप्तो वृकोदर:,संजय कहते हैं--नरेश्वर! मद्रराज शल्य राधापुत्र कर्णसे ऐसी बातें कह ही रहे थे कि क्रोधसे प्रज्वलित हुए भीमसेन उसके सामने आ पहुँचे
sañjaya uvāca | iti bruvati rādheyaṃ madrāṇām īśvare nṛpa | abhyavartata vai karṇaṃ krodhadīpto vṛkodaraḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai raja, ketika Śalya, penguasa Madra, sedang berkata demikian kepada Rādheya (Karna), Bhima—Vrikodara—yang menyala oleh amarah, mara terus menghadap Karna.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how provocative speech and wounded pride can rapidly kindle anger, pushing warriors into immediate confrontation. Ethically, it warns that unchecked krodha (anger) narrows judgment and accelerates violence, especially in a dharma-challenged setting like war.
As Shalya, ruler of Madra, is speaking to Karna (Radheya), Bhima (Vrikodara), enraged, advances toward Karna to face him directly, signaling an imminent clash.