Mahabharata — Karna Parva, Shloka 2
संजय कहते हैं--महाराज! जब कर्णने वृषसेनको मारा गया देखा, तब वह शोक और अमर्षके वशीभूत हो अपने दोनों नेत्रोंसे पुत्रशोकजनित आँसू बहाने लगा ।।
sañjaya uvāca—mahārāja! yadā karṇena vṛṣasenako māritaṃ dṛṣṭvā sa śoka-amārṣa-vaśībhūtaḥ san ubhābhyāṃ netrābhyāṃ putra-śoka-janitāni aśrūṇi mumoca. rathena karṇas tejasvī jagāma abhimukho ripum | yuddhāya amārṣa-tāmra-akṣaḥ samāhūya dhanañjayam ||
Sanjaya berkata: “Wahai Maharaja! Ketika Karna melihat Vṛṣasena terbunuh, ia dikuasai dukacita dan amarah yang tercalar maruah; air mata seorang bapa yang kehilangan anak mengalir dari kedua-dua matanya. Lalu Karna yang bersinar itu, dengan mata merah kerana murka, memacu keretanya terus ke arah musuh; memanggil Dhanañjaya dan mencabarnya bertempur berhadapan.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how even a mighty warrior is vulnerable to personal loss: grief and wounded honor can swiftly turn into wrath. Ethically, it underscores the tragic cost of war—private bonds (a father’s love) are consumed by public duty and vengeance, showing how unchecked emotion can intensify violence.
After Vṛṣasena is killed, Karṇa sees his son’s death, weeps, and then—eyes reddened with anger—drives his chariot toward the enemy and openly challenges Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) to fight.