Shloka 18
कर्णपुत्रवधः (The Fall of Vṛṣasena) — Karṇa Parva, Adhyāya 62
एवमुक्तो5पि कर्णस्तु मद्रराजेन संयुगे
sañjaya uvāca | evam ukto 'pi karṇas tu madrarājena saṃyuge, prahasya samare karṇaś cakāra vimukhaṃ śaraiḥ |
Санджая сказал: Хотя царь Мадры Шалья и обратился к нему так среди битвы, Карна — смеясь в сражении — продолжал действовать по-прежнему. Своими стрелами он вынудил Юдхиштхиру отступить от боя, показывая, как в жаре войны гордыня и гнев способны превозмочь совет и самообладание.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral tension central to the epic: wise counsel may be offered, yet a warrior driven by anger, pride, or rivalry can ignore it. In dharma terms, self-mastery and receptivity to guidance are portrayed as crucial, especially when power and violence are at hand.
In the Karṇa–Śalya episode, Śalya speaks to Karṇa during the battle. Despite being addressed, Karṇa laughs and continues fighting aggressively, using arrows to force Yudhiṣṭhira to withdraw from the immediate combat.