Shloka 493
अजिशीर्षे प्रातःसंध्यायां संग्रामवर्णनम् / Dawn-Transition Battle at Ajiśīrṣa
Chapter 161
आशंसते च बीभत्सु युद्धे जेतुं सुदारुणम् । महारथी कर्ण सदा ही अर्जुनके साथ स्पर्धा रखता था और युद्धमें अत्यन्त भयंकर अर्जुनको पराजित करनेका विश्वास प्रकट करता था
āśaṃsate ca bībhatsu yuddhe jetuṃ sudāruṇam | mahārathī karṇaḥ sadā hi arjunena sārdhaṃ spardhāṃ rakṣati sma, yuddhe cātyanta-bhayaṅkaraṃ arjunaṃ parājayituṃ viśvāsaṃ prakaṭayati sma |
सञ्जय उवाच—बीभत्सुं प्रति सुदारुणेऽस्मिन्युद्धे जेतुं शक्य इति चाशंसन्ते स्म। महारथिः कर्णो हि सदा अर्जुनेन सह स्पर्धां धारयन् पुनः पुनरिदं न्यवेदयत्—युद्धे भीमकर्माणं अर्जुनं जेष्यामि इति।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how personal rivalry and self-assured declarations shape a warrior’s conduct in war; ethically, it cautions that confidence and competitive zeal can drive action, yet victory in the Mahābhārata is not determined by bravado alone but by a complex interplay of skill, circumstance, and dharma.
Sañjaya reports Karṇa’s persistent competitive stance toward Arjuna: Karṇa, counted among the foremost chariot-warriors, keeps proclaiming that he will overcome Arjuna even in a terrifyingly fierce battle.