Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)
तानब्रवीत् ततः कर्ण: क्रुद्धः सर्प इव श्वसन् | करं करेण निष्पीड्य प्रेक्षमाणस्तवात्मजम्
tān abravīt tataḥ karṇaḥ kruddhaḥ sarpa iva śvasan | karaṃ kareṇa niṣpīḍya prekṣamāṇas tavātmajam ||
Pagkaraan, si Karṇa—nag-aalab sa galit at sumisingasing na parang ahas—ay pinisil ang isang kamay sa kabila at, nakatitig sa iyong anak, nagsalita sa mga mandirigmang Kaurava nang ganito—
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical danger of krodha (anger): it constricts judgment and turns speech into a weapon. In the war context, anger becomes a force that drives decisive action, but it also signals inner agitation that can eclipse dharma-guided counsel.
Sanjaya describes Karna’s physical and emotional state—furious, hissing like a serpent, clenching his hands—while he looks toward Duryodhana (“your son”) and begins to speak to the assembled Kaurava heroes, setting up a forceful address amid battlefield tension.