Shloka 17
कर्णपरर्वणि त्रयोचत्वारिंशदध्यायः (Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 43) — Kṛṣṇa’s Battlefield Assessment and the Reversal Around Bhīma
शतद्रुकामहं तीर्त्वा तां च रम्यामिरावतीम्
śatadrukām ahaṃ tīrtvā tāṃ ca ramyām irāvatīm
Karna disse: “Tendo atravessado o rio Śatadrū, atravessei também a bela Irāvatī.” Ao recordar essas travessias, Karna evoca o avanço árduo dos guerreiros por vias d’água sagradas e estratégicas — imagem de firmeza e de marcha incessante sob o peso moral da guerra.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness and forward movement in the midst of conflict: a warrior’s determination is shown through enduring difficult crossings, while the mention of rivers also hints at the sacred and consequential terrain over which dharma and adharma contend.
Karna is speaking and recounting his passage across two rivers—Śatadrū and the beautiful Irāvatī—situating his actions within a broader account of travel, campaigning, or strategic movement during the war.