Shloka 66
Draupadī’s Identification of the Pāṇḍavas and the Onset of the Chariot Engagement (द्रौपदी-पाण्डव-परिचयः)
सूतपुत्रो5पयाद् भीतो गन्धर्वाणां तदा रणात् | 'गान्धारीनन्दन! सेनासहित तुम्हारे सामने ही सूतपुत्र कर्ण गन्धर्वोंसे भयभीत हो युद्धभूमिसे भाग निकला
sūtaputro 'payād bhīto gandharvāṇāṃ tadā raṇāt |
Vaiśaṃpāyana sprach: Damals zog sich Karṇa, der Sohn des Wagenlenkers, von Furcht vor den Gandharvas ergriffen, zurück und floh vom Schlachtfeld — und dies geschah vor den Augen des Sohnes Dhṛtarāṣṭras und seines Heeres.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Martial fame and harsh speech are easy in safety, but true valor is measured when danger arrives; fear can overturn pride, reminding readers to cultivate steadiness, humility, and discernment rather than relying on reputation alone.
During the confrontation with the Gandharvas in the forest episode, Karṇa—called sūtaputra—becomes frightened and retreats from the battlefield, an event reported by Vaiśaṃpāyana and framed as occurring before Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son and his forces.