Shloka 203
कर्णपुत्रवधः (The Fall of Vṛṣasena) — Karṇa Parva, Adhyāya 62
रथस्थमतिसंरब्धं युधिष्ठिरवधे धृतम् । तब शल्यने हँसकर युधिष्ठिरके वधका निश्चय किये अत्यन्त क्रोधमें भरकर रथपर बैठे हुए कर्णसे पुन: इस प्रकार कहा--
rathastham atisaṃrabdhaṃ yudhiṣṭhiravadhe dhṛtam | tataḥ śalyena haṃsakaḥ yudhiṣṭhiravadhasya niścayaṃ kṛtvā atyanta-krodhaṃ bharan rathopaviṣṭena karṇena punaḥ evam uktam — saṃjaya uvāca ||
Sanjaya berkata: Melihat Karna duduk di atas keretanya, bergelora hebat dan bertekad teguh untuk membunuh Yudhishthira, Shalya—setelah tertawa dan menetapkan dalam hati tentang kematian Yudhishthira—berkata sekali lagi kepada Karna dengan cara demikian, ketika Karna masih di atas kereta, dipenuhi amarah yang meluap-luap. Saat itu menegaskan bagaimana kesombongan, ejekan, dan murka dapat menyulut tekad seorang pahlawan, membentuk pilihan dalam perang hingga menguji batas-batas dharma.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how intense anger and derisive provocation can harden one’s intent toward violence. In the Mahabharata’s ethical frame, such passions cloud discernment (viveka) and can push a warrior beyond measured dharma into destructive fixation.
Sanjaya describes Karna on his chariot, furious and determined to kill Yudhishthira. Shalya, acting as Karna’s charioteer, laughs and then speaks again to Karna—setting up the next exchange that influences Karna’s mindset and actions in the battle.