Shloka 58
इत्येवमुक्त्वार्जुन एकवीर: क्षिप्रं रिपुघ्न: क्षतजोपमाक्ष: । भीम॑ मुमुक्षु: समरे प्रयातः कर्णस्य कायाच्च शिरो जिहीर्षु:
sañjaya uvāca | ityevam uktvārjuna ekavīraḥ kṣipraṁ ripughnaḥ kṣatajopamākṣaḥ | bhīmaṁ mumukṣuḥ samare prayātaḥ karṇasya kāyāc ca śiro jihīrṣuḥ ||
Sañjaya nói: Nói xong như vậy, Arjuna—vị anh hùng vô song, kẻ diệt thù, hành động mau lẹ, đôi mắt đỏ như máu vì cơn giận—lập tức tiến ra chiến địa, quyết cứu Bhīma khỏi hiểm nguy và nhất tâm chém lìa đầu Karṇa khỏi thân xác.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its stark form: swift action to protect one’s comrade and to neutralize a dangerous opponent. It also shows how intense emotion (wrath) can accompany duty in war, creating an ethical tension between righteous purpose (rescue) and violent means (beheading).
After making a declaration (in the preceding context), Arjuna immediately advances into the battle. His stated aims are twofold: to free Bhīma from danger and to kill Karṇa decisively by severing his head.