Shloka 54
सदेवगन्धर्वमनुष्यपूजितं निहत्य कर्ण रिपुमाहवेडर्जुन: । रराज राजन् परमेण वर्चसा यथा पुरा वृत्रवधे शतक्रतु:,राजन! देवता, गन्धर्व और मनुष्योंद्वारा पूजित अपने शत्रु कर्णको युद्धमें मारकर अर्जुन अपने उत्तम तेजसे उसी प्रकार प्रकाशित होने लगे, जैसे पूर्वकालमें वृत्रासुरका वध करके इन्द्र सुशोभित हुए थे
sadeva-gandharva-manuṣya-pūjitaṃ nihatya karṇaṃ ripum āhave ’rjunaḥ | rarāja rājan parameṇa varcasā yathā purā vṛtra-vadhe śatakratuḥ ||
शल्य उवाच—सदेवगन्धर्वमनुष्यपूजितं कर्णं रिपुं निहत्याहवेऽर्जुनः। रराज राजन् परमेण वर्चसा यथा पुरा वृत्रवधे शतक्रतुः।
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames martial victory within a moral-epic lens: even a widely revered warrior (Karṇa) can fall when opposed by a divinely empowered and duty-bound hero (Arjuna). The comparison to Indra after Vṛtra’s slaying highlights how victory in a righteous, fated conflict is portrayed as producing ‘varcas’—a radiance of legitimacy, prowess, and public recognition.
Śalya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna has killed Karṇa in battle. After this decisive act, Arjuna appears resplendent, and Śalya likens his brilliance to Indra’s splendor after defeating the demon Vṛtra in ancient myth.