Shloka 33
Adhyāya 36: Ghora-yuddha-varṇanam
A Clinical Description of the Intensified Engagement
शल्य उवाच विरम विरम कर्ण कत्थना- दतिरभसो&प्यतिवाचमुक्तवान् | क्व च हि नरवरो धनंजय: क्व पुनरहो पुरुषाधमो भवान्
śalya uvāca | virama virama karṇa katthanātirabhaso 'py ativācam uktavān | kva ca hi naravaro dhanaṃjayaḥ kva punar aho puruṣādhamo bhavān ||
Śalya nói: “Dừng lại, dừng lại đi, Karṇa—hãy thôi khoác lác. Bị cuốn theo nhiệt huyết quá độ, ngươi đã thốt ra những lời vượt quá chừng mực. Dhanaṃjaya Arjuna, bậc nhất trong loài người, ở đâu—còn ngươi, kẻ hèn mạt nhất trong loài người, ở đâu?”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns against overconfident, exaggerated speech born of rash excitement. Ethical restraint in words—avoiding boastful overreach—is presented as crucial, especially in a high-stakes context like war where pride can cloud judgment and invite downfall.
Śalya, serving as Karṇa’s charioteer, sharply checks Karṇa’s self-assertion by contrasting him with Arjuna (Dhanaṃjaya). The rebuke functions as psychological pressure and a strategic undermining of Karṇa’s confidence on the battlefield.