Shloka 16
Adhyāya 35 — Bhīmasena’s Counter-Encirclement and the Karṇa Engagement Escalation
त॑ं रथस्थं महाबाहुं युद्धायामिततेजसम्,कुरुष्वाधिरथे वीर मिषतां सर्वधन्विनाम् | युद्धके लिये रथपर बैठे हुए अमिततेजस्वी महाबाहु राधापुत्र कर्णसे दुर्योधनने इस प्रकार कहा--“वीर! अधिरथकुमार! युद्धस्थलमें द्रोणाचार्य और भीष्म भी जिसे न कर सके, वही दुष्कर कर्म तुम सम्पूर्ण धनुर्धरोंके देखते-देखते कर डालो
taṁ rathasthaṁ mahābāhuṁ yuddhāyāmitatejasam | kuruṣvādhirathe vīra miṣatāṁ sarvadhanvinām ||
Sañjaya sprach: „O Held, Sohn des Adhiratha!“ Als Karṇa—mächtig an Armen, von unermesslichem Glanz—auf seinem Wagen saß, kampfbereit, redete Duryodhana ihn so an: „Vollbringe, vor den Augen aller Bogenschützen, jene schwere Tat auf dem Schlachtfeld, die selbst Droṇa und Bhīṣma nicht zu vollbringen vermochten.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how leaders can spur warriors through comparison and public challenge: Duryodhana urges Karṇa to surpass even revered elders (Droṇa and Bhīṣma). Ethically, it shows the tension between rightful martial duty and the potentially corrosive use of pride, rivalry, and reputation as motivation in war.
Sañjaya narrates that Karṇa is seated on his chariot, blazing with battle-ready energy. Duryodhana addresses him, urging him to accomplish a formidable feat—one that even Droṇa and Bhīṣma could not—right before all the archers watching on the battlefield.