Shloka 32
Adhyāya 36: Ghora-yuddha-varṇanam
A Clinical Description of the Intensified Engagement
संजय उवाच इति रणरभसस्य कत्थत- स्तदुत निशम्य वच: स मद्रराट् । अवहसदवमन्य वीर्यवान् प्रतिषिषिधे च जगाद चोत्तरम्
sañjaya uvāca | iti raṇarabhāsasya katthataḥ tad u ta niśamya vacaḥ sa madrarāṭ | avahasada avamanya vīryavān pratiṣiṣidhe ca jagāda cottaram ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ହେ ରାଜନ୍! ଯୁଦ୍ଧୋନ୍ମାଦରେ ଅତିଶୟ ଗର୍ବୋକ୍ତି କରୁଥିବା କର୍ଣ୍ଣଙ୍କ ସେହି କଥା ଶୁଣି ପରାକ୍ରମୀ ମଦ୍ରରାଜ ଶଲ୍ୟ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଅବମାନ କରି ଉପହାସ କଲେ। ପରେ ସେ କର୍ଣ୍ଣଙ୍କୁ ଏପରି କଥା ଆଉ ନ କହିବାକୁ ରୋକି, ଏଭଳି ଉତ୍ତର ଦେଲେ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield ethical tension: uncontrolled boastfulness (katthā) and pride in the heat of war invite censure. Śalya’s act of restraining speech suggests that words, like weapons, should be governed—excessive self-praise and contemptuous talk undermine judgment and right conduct.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Śalya, the king of Madra serving as Karṇa’s charioteer, hears Karṇa’s inflated battle-talk, laughs at him with contempt, stops him from continuing, and then begins his own reply—setting up the ensuing exchange between Śalya and Karṇa.