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Shloka 18

Bhīṣma–Arjuna Strategic Engagement at Virāṭa’s Frontier (भीष्मार्जुनयुद्धम्)

स रोषवशमापतन्न: कर्णमेव जिघांसया । तमैक्षत विवृत्ताभ्यां नेत्राभ्यां कुरुपुड्रव:,तब कुरुश्रेष्ठ अर्जुन रोषके वशीभूत हो कर्णको ही मार डालनेकी इच्छासे दोनों आँखें फाड़-फाड़कर उसकी ओर देखने लगे

sa roṣavaśam āpatan naḥ karṇam eva jighāṃsayā | tam aikṣata vivṛttābhyāṃ netrābhyāṃ kurupuṅgavaḥ ||

அப்போது குருகுலச் சிறந்தவன் அர்ஜுனன் கோபத்தால் ஆட்கொள்ளப்பட்டு, கர்ணனை மட்டும் கொல்ல வேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணத்துடன், கண்களை விரித்து அவனை நோக்கிப் பார்த்தான்।

सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
रोषवशम्under the sway of anger
रोषवशम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootरोषवश
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
आपतत्rushed/fell upon
आपतत्:
TypeVerb
Rootआपत् (धातु: पत्/आपत्)
FormImperfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
नःof us/our
नः:
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormGenitive, Plural
कर्णम्Karna
कर्णम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकर्ण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
एवindeed/only
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
जिघांसयाwith the desire to kill
जिघांसया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootजिघांसया (इच्छा-शब्द; desiderative noun from √हन्)
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
तम्him
तम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
ऐक्षतlooked at
ऐक्षत:
TypeVerb
Rootईक्ष्
FormImperfect, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada
विवृत्ताभ्याम्with (his) widened/turned (two)
विवृत्ताभ्याम्:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootविवृत्त (वि+√वृत्/√वृत्त; past participle used adjectivally)
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Dual
नेत्राभ्याम्with (his) two eyes
नेत्राभ्याम्:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootनेत्र
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Dual
कुरुपुङ्गवःthe bull among the Kurus (best of the Kurus)
कुरुपुङ्गवः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकुरुपुङ्गव
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
A
Arjuna
K
Karṇa
K
Kuru lineage (Kuru)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how wrath can seize even a great warrior, narrowing his focus to vengeance. Implicitly it points to the ethical need for self-mastery (dama) so that martial duty is guided by discernment rather than rage.

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Arjuna, overwhelmed by anger, rushes toward Karṇa with the intent to kill him and glares at him with eyes widened in fury, signaling an escalation toward direct combat.