Shloka 20
Draupadī-apaharaṇa-saṃdeśaḥ
Report of Draupadī’s Abduction and the Pāṇḍavas’ Pursuit
हतस्य नरकस्यात्मा कर्णमूर्तिमुपाश्रित: । तद् वैरं संस्मरन् वीर योत्स्यते केशवार्जुनौ,श्रीकृष्णके हाथों जो नरकासुर मारा गया है, उसकी आत्मा कर्णके शरीरमें घुस गयी है। वीरवर! वह (नरकासुर) उस वैरको याद करके श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुनसे युद्ध करेगा
hatasyā narakasyātmā karṇamūrtim upāśritaḥ | tad vairaṃ saṃsmaran vīra yotsyate keśavārjunau ||
వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను—శ్రీకృష్ణుని చేత హతుడైన నరకాసురుని ఆత్మ కర్ణుని దేహరూపంలో ఆశ్రయించింది. పూర్వవైరాన్ని స్మరించుకొని ఆ మహావీరుడు కేశవుడితోను అర్జునుడితోను యుద్ధం కోరును.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how remembered enmity can persist beyond a single lifetime or episode and reassert itself through new circumstances. It cautions that unresolved hatred and vengeance can become a driving force behind future violence, suggesting an ethical need to restrain and transform hostility rather than perpetuate it.
Vaiśampāyana reports that Naraka, previously slain by Kṛṣṇa, has (in spirit) taken refuge in Karṇa’s body/form. Motivated by past hostility, this force is said to seek combat with Kṛṣṇa (Keśava) and Arjuna, foreshadowing intensified confrontation involving these figures.