Shloka 8
Aśvatthāman’s Arrow-Screen and the Confrontation with Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रौणि–युधिष्ठिर-संग्रामः)
घोररूपो महारीद्रस्तनुत्रास्थिविदारण: । निर्भिन्द्यां येन रुष्टो*हमपि मेरुं महागिरिम्,यह अत्यन्त भयंकर घोर बाण कवच तथा हडियोंको भी चीर देनेवाला है। मैं कुपित होनेपर इस बाणके द्वारा महान् पर्वत मेरुको भी विदीर्ण कर सकता हूँ
ghorarūpo mahārīdras tanutrāsthividāraṇaḥ | nirbhindyāṁ yena ruṣṭo 'ham api meruṁ mahāgirim ||
Karna nói: “Mũi tên này mang hình tướng ghê rợn—một phi tiễn khổng lồ, xuyên phá, có thể chẻ cả giáp lẫn xương. Khi ta nổi cơn thịnh nộ, chính bằng mũi tên này ta cũng có thể bổ đôi cả núi Meru, ngọn đại sơn.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how wrath amplifies destructive intent: Karna frames his martial power as limitless when angered, illustrating the ethical danger of pride and rage in war—strength without restraint tends toward excess.
Karna is describing a fearsome weapon at his disposal, boasting that it can pierce armour and bone and that, if provoked, he could use it to cleave even the great mountain Meru—an image meant to convey overwhelming martial potency.