Shloka 26
अथाब्रवीत् क्रोधसंरक्तनेत्रो मद्राधिपं सूतपुत्रस्तरस्वी । न संधत्ते द्विः शरं शल्य कर्णो न मादृशा जिद्मयुद्धा भवन्ति,यह सुनकर वेगशाली सूतपुत्र कर्णके नेत्र क्रोधसे लाल हो गये। उसने मद्रराजसे कहा --'कर्ण दो बार बाणका संधान नहीं करता। मेरे-जैसे वीर कपटपूर्वक युद्ध नहीं करते हैं'
athābravīt krodha-saṃrakta-netro madrādhipaṃ sūta-putras tarasvī | na saṃdhatte dviḥ śaraṃ śalya karṇo na mādṛśā jidma-yuddhā bhavanti ||
Sañjaya berkata: Mendengar itu, putera sais kereta yang perkasa itu memerah matanya kerana marah, lalu berkata kepada penguasa Madra: “Wahai Śalya, Karṇa tidak memasang anak panah dua kali. Pahlawan sepertiku tidak berperang dengan cara yang bengkok dan menipu.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds a warrior’s self-image of honor: Karṇa asserts that he does not resort to duplicity in battle and claims adherence to straightforward martial conduct, even when provoked.
After hearing something that angers him, Karṇa—described with rage-reddened eyes—addresses Śalya, the king of Madra (serving as his charioteer), and rebukes the idea of fighting by guile, declaring his own directness in combat.