Shloka 39
शिरश्छेत्स्यामि कर्णस्य मिषतां सर्वधन्विनाम् “मधुसूदन! आज संग्राममें समस्त धनुर्धरोंके देखते-देखते मैं राधापुत्र कर्णका मस्तक काट डालूँगा ।। अद्य ती#णैविंपाठैश्न क्षुरैश्ष मधुसूदन
śiraś chetsyāmi karṇasya miṣatāṁ sarva-dhanvinām | madhusūdana! adya saṅgrāme samasta-dhanurdharāṇāṁ dekhate-dekhate ahaṁ rādhāputra-karṇasya mastakaṁ kāṭaṁ dāsyāmi ||
Sañjaya disse: “Madhusūdana! Hoje, no meio da batalha, diante dos olhos de todos os arqueiros, deceparei a cabeça de Karṇa, o filho de Rādhā.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the psychology of war: a warrior’s public vow of decisive action is used to project certainty and intimidate opponents. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s tension between kṣatriya duty (victory through force) and the tragic cost of violence, where resolve and righteousness are not always aligned.
Sañjaya reports a combatant’s fierce declaration addressed to Kṛṣṇa (Madhusūdana): in the ongoing battle, the speaker claims he will cut off Karṇa’s head in full view of all archers—an announcement meant to signal imminent, climactic confrontation.