Shloka 58
इत्येवमुक्त्वार्जुन एकवीर: क्षिप्रं रिपुघ्न: क्षतजोपमाक्ष: । भीम॑ मुमुक्षु: समरे प्रयातः कर्णस्य कायाच्च शिरो जिहीर्षु:
sañjaya uvāca | ityevam uktvārjuna ekavīraḥ kṣipraṁ ripughnaḥ kṣatajopamākṣaḥ | bhīmaṁ mumukṣuḥ samare prayātaḥ karṇasya kāyāc ca śiro jihīrṣuḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच— इत्युक्त्वा अर्जुनः एकवीरः क्षिप्रं रिपुघ्नः क्षतजोपमाक्षः क्रोधात्, समरे प्रयातः— भीमं संकटात् मोचयितुं कर्णस्य कायाच्च शिरो जिहीर्षुः।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its stark form: swift action to protect one’s comrade and to neutralize a dangerous opponent. It also shows how intense emotion (wrath) can accompany duty in war, creating an ethical tension between righteous purpose (rescue) and violent means (beheading).
After making a declaration (in the preceding context), Arjuna immediately advances into the battle. His stated aims are twofold: to free Bhīma from danger and to kill Karṇa decisively by severing his head.