Shloka 4
अर्जुनस्य द्रोणिप्रतिघातः कर्णोपसर्पणं च
Arjuna Checks Droṇaputra; Karṇa Advances
त॑ तूर्णमभिधावन्तं पज्चाला जितकाशिन: । प्रत्युद्ययुर्महात्मानं हंसा इव महार्णवम्,विजयसे उल्लसित होनेवाले पांचाल वीर शीघ्रतापूर्वक आक्रमण करते हुए महामना कर्णकी अगवानीके लिये उसी प्रकार आगे बढ़े, जैसे हंस महासागरकी ओर बढ़ते हैं
taṁ tūṛṇam abhidhāvantaṁ pāñcālā jitakāśinaḥ | pratyudyayur mahātmānaṁ haṁsā iva mahārṇavam ||
Sañjaya sprach: Als der hochgesinnte Karṇa in schnellem Angriff nach vorn stürmte, rückten die Helden der Pāñcāla—vom Sieg berauscht—ihm entgegen, wie Schwäne, die dem weiten Ozean zustreben.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of meeting force with readiness and courage: opponents do not shrink back but advance to face the oncoming threat. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s war-world where valor and resolve are praised even amid tragic conflict.
Karṇa charges forward rapidly, and the Pāñcāla warriors—buoyed by prior successes—move out to confront him. The poet compares their forward movement to swans gliding toward the vast ocean, emphasizing coordinated, confident advance.