Shloka 18
कर्णपुत्रवधः (The Fall of Vṛṣasena) — Karṇa Parva, Adhyāya 62
एवमुक्तो5पि कर्णस्तु मद्रराजेन संयुगे
sañjaya uvāca | evam ukto 'pi karṇas tu madrarājena saṃyuge, prahasya samare karṇaś cakāra vimukhaṃ śaraiḥ |
Wika ni Sañjaya: Bagaman gayon ang sinabi sa kanya ng hari ng Madra na si Śalya sa gitna ng labanan, si Karṇa—na tumatawa sa gitna ng sagupaan—ay nagpatuloy na gaya ng dati. Sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga palaso, itinaboy niya si Yudhiṣṭhira palayo sa labanan, ipinakikitang sa init ng digmaan, ang pagmamataas at poot ay kayang manaig sa payo at pagpipigil-sa-sarili.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral tension central to the epic: wise counsel may be offered, yet a warrior driven by anger, pride, or rivalry can ignore it. In dharma terms, self-mastery and receptivity to guidance are portrayed as crucial, especially when power and violence are at hand.
In the Karṇa–Śalya episode, Śalya speaks to Karṇa during the battle. Despite being addressed, Karṇa laughs and continues fighting aggressively, using arrows to force Yudhiṣṭhira to withdraw from the immediate combat.