Shloka 23
काकोपमोपदेशः
The Crow-and-Swan Exemplum as Counsel to Karṇa
तामापतन्तीं सहसा धर्मराज: शितै: शरै:
tām āpatantīṁ sahasā dharmarājaḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
সঞ্জয় বললেন—সে হঠাৎ ধেয়ে এলে ধর্মরাজ যুধিষ্ঠির তীক্ষ্ণ শর দিয়ে তাকে প্রতিহত করলেন; যুদ্ধের বিশৃঙ্খলায় দ্রুত আক্রমণও সংযমে নয়, নির্ণায়ক বলেই জবাব পায়।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The line highlights kṣatriya-duty in battle: when confronted by an onrushing opponent, the warrior responds with decisive, skillful force. It also underscores the ethical tension of war—swift violence can become the default response even for a figure identified with dharma.
Sañjaya reports that an unnamed feminine-referenced figure (“her”) charges suddenly, and Dharmarāja counters immediately by shooting sharp arrows at her. The verse is a brief combat snapshot within the larger Karṇa Parva battle narration.