युधिष्ठिरेमं बीभत्सुं त्वं सान्त्वयितुमरहसि । अनुज्ञातुं च कर्णस्य वधायाद्य दुरात्मन:
yudhiṣṭhiram imaṃ bībhatsuṃ tvaṃ sāntvayitum arhasi | anujñātuṃ ca karṇasya vadhāyādya durātmanaḥ ||
ਸੰਜਯ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਹੇ ਬੀਭਤ੍ਸੁ (ਅਰਜੁਨ)! ਇਸ ਮਾਮਲੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਤੂੰ ਯੁਧਿਸ਼ਠਿਰ ਨੂੰ ਸਾਂਤਵਨਾ ਦੇ, ਅਤੇ ਅੱਜ ਦੁਸ਼ਟ-ਆਤਮਾ ਕਰਨ ਨੂੰ ਵਧ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਇਜਾਜ਼ਤ ਵੀ ਦੇ।
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights two intertwined duties in a dharmic crisis: compassionate reassurance of a distressed leader (consoling Yudhiṣṭhira) and decisive authorization for necessary action in war (assenting to Karṇa’s slaying). It frames ethical warfare as requiring both emotional steadiness and clear resolve.
Sañjaya reports a directive addressed to Arjuna: he should comfort Yudhiṣṭhira, who is troubled by events, and he should give his assent for the battle’s next decisive step—moving toward the killing of Karṇa, described here as wicked-souled.