Shloka 85
छिन्ने शरे सर्पमुखे च घोरे पार्थेन तस्मिन् विषसाद कर्ण: । अमृष्यमाणो व्यसनानि तानि हस्तौ विधुन्वन् स विगर्हमाण:
chinne śare sarpamukhe ca ghore pārthena tasmin viṣasāda karṇaḥ | amṛṣyamāṇo vyasanāni tāni hastau vidhunvan sa vigarhamāṇaḥ ||
เมื่อปารถะ (อรชุน) ตัดลูกศรอันน่าสะพรึงที่มีหน้าดุจอสรพิษนั้นขาด กรรณะก็จมลงในความเศร้าหมอง ครั้นทนเคราะห์กรรมที่ถาโถมมิได้ เขาก็สั่นสะบัดมือทั้งสองด้วยความกระวนกระวาย แล้วเริ่มกล่าวโทษติเตียนธรรมะ
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical fault-line in crisis: when misfortunes pile up, a warrior may lose steadiness and begin to blame dharma itself. The implied lesson is that true adherence to dharma is tested precisely under adversity; despair and reproach do not restore right order, but self-mastery and discernment do.
Sanjaya reports that Arjuna cuts down Karna’s terrifying serpent-faced missile. This reversal, amid other setbacks, overwhelms Karna; he becomes dejected, gestures in agitation, and begins to speak in a reproachful manner—interpreted in context as censuring dharma/fate for his predicament.