Shloka 10
एते रक्षन्ति राजानं सूतपुत्रेण रक्षिता: | अवध्यमानास्ते<स्माभिर्घातयिष्यन्ति सोमकान्
ete rakṣanti rājānaṃ sūtaputreṇa rakṣitāḥ | avadhyamānās te ’smābhir ghātayiṣyanti somakān ||
Arjuna sprach: „Diese Krieger, vom Sohn des Wagenlenkers (Karṇa) geschützt, bewachen den König (Duryodhana). Wenn wir sie nicht niederstrecken, werden sie — von uns unbehelligt — die Somakas abschlachten. Darum müssen wir ihnen entgegentreten und sie töten, zum Schutz unserer Verbündeten und für den Verlauf der Schlacht.“
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames battlefield violence as conditional and duty-bound: if key defenders are left unchecked, they will destroy one’s allies. Arjuna argues for decisive action to prevent greater harm, reflecting kṣatriya responsibility to protect one’s side and uphold the chosen war-aim.
In the Karṇa Parva battle context, Arjuna identifies Duryodhana’s principal protectors—supported by Karna—and warns that unless they are eliminated, they will massacre the Somakas (Pāñcāla-aligned troops). He urges targeting these defenders to safeguard allied forces.