Shloka 38
खड्गजिद्द धनुरास्यं शरदंष्टं तरस्विनम् | दृप्तं पुरुषशार्टूलं जहि कर्ण धनंजय,अर्जुन! कर्ण पुरुषोंमें सिंहके समान है, तलवार ही उसकी जिह्ठा है, धनुष ही उसका फैला हुआ मुख है, बाण उसकी दाढ़ें हैं, वह अत्यन्त वेगशशाली और अभिमानी है। तुम उसका वध करो
khaḍgajihvaṃ dhanurāsyaṃ śaradantaṃ tarasvinam | dṛptaṃ puruṣaśārdūlaṃ jahi karṇaṃ dhanaṃjaya, arjuna! |
Wika ni Vāyu: “O Dhanañjaya Arjuna, pabagsakin mo si Karṇa. Siya’y tulad ng leon sa mga tao—ang dila niya’y espada, ang nakangangang bibig ay busog, at ang mga ngipin ay mga palaso. Napakabilis niya at namamaga sa pagmamataas. Kaya patayin mo siya.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames righteous action in war as resolute performance of one’s kṣatriya duty: when a dangerous, pride-driven adversary threatens the moral and strategic order of the battle, hesitation is discouraged and decisive action is urged.
Vāyudeva addresses Arjuna (Dhanañjaya), urging him to kill Karṇa. Karṇa is portrayed through a vivid martial metaphor—sword-tongue, bow-mouth, arrow-teeth—emphasizing his ferocity, speed, and arrogance, and motivating Arjuna toward immediate combat action.