Shloka 45
द्रोणपर्व (अध्याय १) — भीष्मनिधनानन्तरं धृतराष्ट्रस्य शोकः, सेनायाः स्थितिः, कर्णस्मरणं च
Droṇa Parva, Chapter 1: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s grief after Bhīṣma’s fall and the army’s reorientation toward Karṇa
एवं ते सम हि राधेयं सूतपुत्र तनुत्यजम् | चुक्कुशु: सहिता योधास्तत्र तत्र महाबला:,इस प्रकार आपके महाबली योद्धालोग राधानन्दन सूतपुत्र कर्णको, जो दुर्योधनके लिये अपना शरीर निछावर किये बैठा था, एक साथ पुकारने लगे
evaṁ te sama hi rādheyaṁ sūtaputra tanutyajam | cukruśuḥ sahitā yodhās tatra tatra mahābalāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Thus, your mighty warriors, gathered together, repeatedly cried out to Rādheya—Karna, the charioteer’s son—who was ready to lay down his very body for Duryodhana.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical tension between personal loyalty and the broader demands of dharma: Karna’s readiness to sacrifice himself for Duryodhana is portrayed as extraordinary devotion and courage, yet it also raises questions about whether unwavering allegiance to a flawed cause can be morally justified.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava warriors, assembled and moving about the battlefield, repeatedly call out to Karna (Rādheya), recognizing him as a decisive champion—one prepared to give his life for Duryodhana.