Shloka 87
विभिन्नगात्र: क्षतजोक्षिताड़: कर्णो बभौ रुद्र इवाततेषु: । प्रक्रीडमानो5थ श्मशानमध्ये रौद्रे मुहुर्ते रुधिरा्द्रगात्र:
sañjaya uvāca | vibhinnagātraḥ kṣatajokṣitāṅgaḥ karṇo babhau rudra ivātateṣu | prakrīḍamāno ’tha śmaśānamadhye raudre muhūrte rudhirārdragātraḥ ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ଅଙ୍ଗପ୍ରତ୍ୟଙ୍ଗ ବିଦୀର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଓ କ୍ଷତରକ୍ତରେ ସିକ୍ତ କର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଯୁଦ୍ଧମଧ୍ୟରେ ରୁଦ୍ରଙ୍କ ପରି ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ ହେଲେ। ରୌଦ୍ର ମୁହୂର୍ତ୍ତରେ ଶ୍ମଶାନମଧ୍ୟରେ କ୍ରୀଡା କରୁଥିବା ପରି, ରକ୍ତସିକ୍ତ ଦେହ ଓ ଶରବେଷ୍ଟିତ ହୋଇ ସେ ଉଗ୍ର ରୁଦ୍ର ସମାନ ପ୍ରତୀତ ହେଲେ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the grim ethic of kṣatriya warfare: even when grievously wounded, a warrior is expected to stand firm. By likening Karṇa to Rudra in a cremation-ground, the text highlights how battle becomes a realm of death where valor and destruction coexist, reminding the listener of the terrible cost of dharma pursued through war.
Sañjaya narrates that Karṇa has been struck hard by Arjuna’s swift, fearsome arrows. His body is torn and soaked in blood, yet he appears terrifyingly radiant—compared to Rudra roaming a cremation-ground at a fierce moment—suggesting both Karṇa’s endurance and the dreadful intensity of the duel.