Shloka 26
कर्णनिधनश्रवणम् — Hearing of Karṇa’s Fall and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament
शल्यपुत्रस्तु विक्रान्त: सहदेवेन मारिष । हतो रुक्मरथो राजन् भ्राता मातुलजो युधि,माननीय नरेश! शल्यका पराक्रमी पुत्र रुक्मरथ, जो सहदेवका ममेरा भाई था, युद्धमें सहदेवके ही हाथसे मारा गया
śalyaputrastu vikrāntaḥ sahadevena māriṣa | hato rukmaratho rājan bhrātā mātulajo yudhi ||
মান্যবর! শল্যের পরাক্রমী পুত্র রুক্মরথ—যে সহদেবের মামাতো ভাই ছিল—যুদ্ধে সহদেবের হাতেই নিহত হল।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh ethical reality of dharma in war: even close kin may be compelled to fight and kill when aligned on opposing sides, showing how duty and allegiance can override familial bonds in a righteous-but-tragic conflict.
Sañjaya reports to the king that Rukmaratha, the brave son of Śalya and Sahadeva’s maternal cousin, has been slain on the battlefield by Sahadeva.