Shloka 223
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
आसीदू रौद्रो महाराज कर्णपाण्डवयोर्मधे । प्रजानाथ! महाराज! युद्धस्थलमें कर्ण और भीमसेनका वह संघर्ष घोर, रौद्र और अत्यन्त भयंकर था
āsīd raundro mahārāja karṇa-pāṇḍavayor madhye | prajānātha! mahārāja! yuddhasthale karṇa-bhīmasenayor ayaṃ saṅgharṣo ghoraḥ raudraś cātyanta-bhayaṅkara āsīt ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: O dakilang hari, O panginoon ng bayan—sa larangan ng digmaan, ang sagupaan nina Karṇa at Bhīmasena ay mabangis at nag-aalab sa poot, lubhang kasindak-sindak at nakapanghihilakbot. Ipinahihiwatig nito na ang daloy ng digmaan ay lumihis tungo sa marahas na pagsubok ng pagtitiis at paninindigan, kung saan ang pansariling alitan at tungkuling mandirigma ay nagsanib sa isang nakagigimbal na tanawin.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the destructive intensity of war: when duty and rivalry collide, the battlefield becomes a space where anger (raudra) dominates, reminding readers that even ‘righteous’ warfare can devolve into terrifying violence that tests moral restraint.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the encounter between Karṇa and Bhīma on the battlefield has become extremely fierce and dreadful, highlighting a climactic, close-quarters struggle between two foremost warriors.