Shloka 89
(राजानं च महाबाहुं पीडयन्त्यात्तमन्यव: । राधेयो बहुभि: सार्थमसौ गच्छति वेगत: ।।
rājānaṃ ca mahābāhuṃ pīḍayanty āttamanyavaḥ | rādheyo bahubhiḥ sārtham asau gacchati vegataḥ || varjayitvā tu bhīmaṃ taṃ pārśvato hānayan dhanuḥ | taṃ pālayan mahārājaṃ dhārtarāṣṭraṃ balānvitaḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: Die Pāṇḍava-Truppen, vom Zorn ergriffen, bedrängten den großarmigen König Duryodhana hart und setzten ihn in Not. Als Rādheya (Karna), stark und entschlossen, dies sah, eilte er mit vielen Kriegern zu ihm, den Bogen an der Seite; Bhīma bewusst beiseitelassend, zog er aus, den Dhārtarāṣṭra-König zu schützen.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds battlefield dharma as understood by warriors: protection of one’s king and ally is treated as a paramount obligation. Karna’s choice to set aside a direct engagement with Bhīma and instead rush to defend Duryodhana illustrates loyalty and prioritization of duty amid personal enmities.
The Pāṇḍava forces, enraged, are overwhelming and distressing Duryodhana. Karna, accompanied by many fighters, hastens toward Duryodhana to guard him, keeping his bow ready, and intentionally does not engage Bhīma at that moment.