Shloka 196
कर्णपुत्रवधः (The Fall of Vṛṣasena) — Karṇa Parva, Adhyāya 62
प्रहस्य समरे कर्णश्च॒कार विमुखं शरै: । युद्धस्थलमें मद्रराज शल्यके ऐसा कहनेपर भी कर्ण पूर्ववत् रोषमें भरकर युधिष्ठिरको बाणोंद्वारा पीड़ित करता रहा। माद्रीकुमार पाण्डुपुत्र नकुल-सहदेवको तीखे बाणोंसे घायल करके कर्णने हँसकर समरांगणमें बाणोंके प्रहारसे युधिष्ठिरको युद्धसे विमुख कर दिया
prahasya samare karṇaś cakāra vimukhaṃ śaraiḥ |
प्रहस्य समरे कर्णश्चकार विमुखं शरैः । शल्यवाक्यमपि श्रुत्वा रोषेणान्धः स राधेयः ॥ युधिष्ठिरं शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः पीडयामास दंशितः । माद्रीपुत्रौ च नकुलसहदेवौ महाबलौ ॥ तीक्ष्णैः शरैर्व्यथयित्वा स्मयमानो रणाजिरे । युधिष्ठिरं पुनः कर्णो विमुखं समकारयत् ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how roṣa (wrath) and martial pride can override wise counsel (here associated with Śalya), leading a warrior to press an advantage relentlessly. Ethically, it points to the tension between kṣatriya valor and the need for restraint and right-mindedness even in justified war.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa, laughing amid combat, showers Yudhiṣṭhira with arrows and forces him to withdraw or turn away from the fight. Karṇa also strikes Nakula and Sahadeva with sharp arrows, and despite Śalya’s words, continues his aggressive assault.