Shloka 86
कृपश्च भोजश्नच तवात्मजश्न ते शरैरनेकैर्युधि पाण्डवर्षभम् । महारथा: संयुगमूर्थनि स्थिता- स्तमोनुदं वारिधरा इवापतन्
kṛpaś ca bhojaś ca tavātmajaś ca te śarair anekair yudhi pāṇḍavarṣabham | mahārathāḥ saṁyugamūrdhani sthitās tamonudaṁ vāridharā ivāpatan ||
Karna sprach: „Kṛpa, Bhoja (Kṛtavarmā) und dein eigener Sohn—jene drei großen Wagenkämpfer, die an der vordersten Front des Zusammenpralls standen—trafen im Kampf den Stier unter den Pāṇḍavas (Arjuna) mit vielen Pfeilen, als stürzten Scharen regenbeladener Wolken auf den Vertreiber der Finsternis, die Sonne, herab.“
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the epic ethic of kṣatriya warfare: coordinated effort, steadfastness at the battle-front, and the relentless testing of a hero’s endurance. It also underscores how even a great warrior may be assailed by many at once—suggesting that prowess is measured not only by striking but by withstanding overwhelming opposition.
Karna describes how three leading Kaurava-side warriors—Kṛpa, Kṛtavarmā, and Duryodhana—positioned at the forefront of the fight, shower Arjuna with numerous arrows. The attack is compared to rain-clouds surging upon the Sun, emphasizing both the intensity of the assault and Arjuna’s radiance as a central figure in the battle.