Shloka 523
Aśvatthāman’s Arrow-Screen and the Confrontation with Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रौणि–युधिष्ठिर-संग्रामः)
मा त्वां हत्वा प्रदास्यामि क्रव्याद्धयो मद्रकाधम । समझदार शल्य! ऐसा जानकर चुपचाप बैठे रहो। डरके मारे बहुत बड़बड़ाते क्यों हो। मद्रदेशके नराधम! यदि तुम चुप न हुए तो तुम्हारे टुकड़े-टुकड़े करके मांसभक्षी प्राणियोंको बाँट दूँगा
mā tvāṁ hatvā pradāsyāmi kravyādbhyo madrakādhama |
Karna said: “Do not think that, after killing you, I would hand you over to the flesh-eaters, O lowest of the Madras. Knowing this, O Shalya, sit quietly. Why do you prattle so much out of fear? If you do not keep silent, I will cut you into pieces and distribute your flesh to the carrion-feeding creatures.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger and contempt corrode discernment in war: instead of upholding kshatriya restraint and respectful speech, Karna uses dehumanizing threats to silence an ally, showing the ethical danger of letting fear and rage govern one’s words.
During the Kurukshetra war, Karna, with Shalya as his charioteer, is provoked by Shalya’s sharp remarks. Karna responds with a violent threat, ordering Shalya to be silent and insulting him as a ‘lowest Madra,’ escalating their tense exchange.