Shloka 48
अर्जुनकर्णसंनिपातवर्णनम् / The Convergence of Arjuna and Karṇa
फाल्गुन! मेरे हृदयमें जिस कर्णकी शठतारूपी वायुसे प्रेरित हो अमर्षकी आग सदा प्रज्वलित रहती है “उस कर्णको आज युद्धमें पाकर मैंने मार डाला” ऐसा कहते हुए क्या तुम आज मेरी उस अताको बुझा दोगे? ।।
bravīhi me durlabham etad adya kathaṁ tvayā nihataḥ sūtaputraḥ | anudhyāye tvāṁ satataṁ pravīra vṛtre hate ’sau bhagavān ivendraḥ ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “O Phālguna! Sa aking dibdib, ang apoy ng poot ay laging naglalagablab, pinapaypay ng hangin ng panlilinlang ni Karna. Kung ngayong araw, matapos mong makaharap si Karna sa digmaan, ay tunay mong masasabi: ‘Napatay ko siya,’ mapapawi mo na ba sa wakas ang nag-aalab na galit na matagal nang naiipon sa akin? Sabihin mo sa akin—tila halos di-mapaniniwalaan ngayon—paano mo napatay ang anak ng kutsero? O pinakadakilang bayani, lagi kitang iniisip, gaya ng paggunita sa pinagpalang Indra matapos niyang mapatay si Vṛtra.”
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral psychology of war: righteous victory is not merely strategic but also ethical and emotional. Yudhiṣṭhira seeks assurance that a major source of injustice and deceit (as he perceives Karna) has been removed, so that his inner fire of resentment can finally be calmed; it also shows how heroic deeds are framed through dharmic exemplars (Arjuna compared to Indra).
After the climactic battle in which Karna has fallen, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Arjuna (Phalguna) and asks him to explain how Karna was slain. He expresses that his long-held anger—kept burning by memories of Karna’s perceived treachery—will be extinguished if Arjuna can truly declare that Karna has been killed, praising Arjuna by comparing him to Indra after slaying Vṛtra.