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 ||
舍利耶说道:“住口,住口,迦尔那——休要再夸口。你被过盛的狂热所驱,使言辞越过了分寸。试问:人中最胜的檀那阇耶·阿周那在何处——而你这人中最下者,又在何处?”
शल्य उवाच
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.