Shloka 31
“मैंने माताके दूधका, मधु और घीका, अच्छी तरह तैयार किये हुए मधूक-पुष्पनिर्मित पेय पदार्थका, दिव्य जलके रसका, दूध और दहीसे बिलोये हुए ताजे माखनका भी पान या रसास्वादन किया है; इन सबसे तथा इनके अतिरिक्त भी संसारमें जो अमृतके समान स्वादिष्ट पीनेयोग्य पदार्थ हैं, उन सबसे भी मेरे इस शत्रुके रक्तका स्वाद अधिक है
sañjaya uvāca — mayā mātur dugdhasya, madhunaḥ ghṛtasya ca, suparipakvaṃ madhūka-puṣpa-nirmitaṃ pānīyaṃ, divya-jala-rasaṃ, dugdha-dadhi-manthitaṃ nava-nītaṃ ca pītaṃ rasāsvāditaṃ ca; etebhyaḥ sarvebhyaḥ, etebhyaś ca anyebhyaḥ api loke amṛta-sadṛśa-svādiṣṭa-pānīyebhyaḥ, mama asya śatroḥ raktasya svādaḥ adhikaḥ.
Wika ni Sañjaya: “Natamasa ko na ang gatas ng aking ina, pulot at ghee; nainom ko na ang inuming mula sa bulaklak ng madhūka na inihandang mahusay; nalasap ko na ang diwa ng makalangit na tubig; at natikman ko na rin ang sariwang mantikilyang hinango sa gatas at gatas-asim. Ngunit higit sa lahat ng iyon—at higit sa bawat inuming sa daigdig na pinupuri na tila amṛta—wala nang mas matamis sa akin kaysa sa lasa ng dugo ng kaaway na ito.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how hatred and vengeance can corrupt discernment: even life-sustaining and sacred tastes (milk, honey, ghee, nectar-like drinks) are declared inferior to the relish of an enemy’s blood. Ethically, it functions as a warning about the dehumanizing intoxication of violence and the fall into adharma when cruelty becomes ‘sweet.’
In the midst of the Karna Parva battle context, a speaker (reported by Sanjaya) expresses extreme bloodlust, comparing many prized drinks to the ‘taste’ of an enemy’s blood and declaring the latter superior. The statement intensifies the atmosphere of ferocity and personal enmity driving the combat.